Purpose: To describe the ocular manifestations of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), a common cause of congenital cataracts in developing countries.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of case records of 46 sero-positive infants under 12 months of age who presented at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai between July 1993 and February 2001. The ocular and systemic examination details were recorded.
Results: Both eyes were affected in 41 (89%) patients. Cataract was present in 81 (93.1%) eyes; most of them were nuclear cataract (79, 97.5%). Other common ocular presentations included microphthalmos in 74 (85.1%) eyes, iris abnormalities in 51 (58.6%) eyes, and pigmentary retinopathy in 33 (37.9%) eyes. Cataract, microphthalmos and iris hypoplasia was a common combination present in 49 (56.3%) eyes. Systemic manifestations included cardiac anomalies in 23 (50%) and neurological anomalies in 16 (34%) children. Multi-system involvement was present in 32 (70%) children. Low birth weight (below 2 kg) was seen in 30% infants.
Conclusion: CRS may present with a wide spectrum of ocular and systemic findings and requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Any sick infant with unilateral or bilateral congenital cataract should be investigated thoroughly for CRS.