Cataracts Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cataracts, including details on surgical procedures, outcomes, causes, treatment.

2005 Gregg Lecture: Congenital cataract--from rubella to genetics.

Mackey DA

Eye Clinic, Royal Hobart Hospital, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. d.mackey@utas.edu.au

On the 65th anniversary of Gregg's observation "Congenital cataract following German measles in the mother", rubella has retired as the leading cause of congenital cataract, from 87% of Gregg's cohort to less than 3% over the last 25 years and almost zero now in Australia and other developed countries. However, people must keep vigilance in maintaining immunization rates and encourage immunization in developing countries. At least one-fifth of congenital cataract is familial. Understanding the genetics of familial cataract will lead to better treatment of congenital as well as age-related cataract.

Published 4 May 2006 in Clin Experiment Ophthalmol, 34(3): 199-207.
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