title: Global challenges in the management of congenital cataract: proceedings of the 4th International Congenital Cataract Symposium held on March 7, 2014, New York, New York.
abstract: Childhood cataracts have become a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness in many areas of the world. Here we summarize regional focus group discussions from the 4th Annual International Congenital Cataract Symposium on the current situation, challenges, and recommendations for the management of congenital cataracts in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, Central America, South America, and developed nations. Strategies for managing congenital cataracts must be adapted and developed according to regional conditions. A basic framework for acceptable outcomes must focus on developing systems to address the critical components of education, access, quality care, and good follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: phoebe.lenhart@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Phoebe D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lenhart
authors.affiliation: Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology International, Division of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtright
authors.affiliation: Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: M Edward
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology International, Division of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewallen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, University College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David Samuel
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Altino Ventura Foundation, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.affiliation: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, England.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.affiliation: Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Hamilton Eye Institute, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Lauren C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ditta
authors.affiliation: Stacey J. Kruger, MD & Associates, P.A., Miami, Florida.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Shakankiri
authors.affiliation: Lumbini Eye Institute, Nepal.
authors.forename: Salma Kc
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.affiliation: Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Tehara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003906:Developing Countries; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*