Assessment of risk factors for infantile cataracts using a case-control study: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 2000-2004.

Objective To identify risk factors for infantile cataracts of unknown etiology. Design Case-control study. Participants Case infants (n = 152) and control infants (n = 4205) enrolled in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study for birth years 2000–2004. Methods Multivariate analysis was performed exploring associations for risk factors for bilateral and unilateral infantile cataracts of unknown etiology. Main Outcome Measures Infantile cataracts of unknown etiology. Results Maternal interviews were completed for 43 case infants with bilateral and 109 with unilateral infantile cataracts of unknown etiology. Very low birth weight ( Conclusions Very low birth weight is associated with both bilateral and unilateral cataracts, whereas low birth weight is associated with bilateral cataracts and primigravidity with unilateral cataracts. Other associations, although not statistically significant, suggest risk factors that merit further research. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.