Cataracts cause the lens of the eye, usually clear, to become cloudy, and they are generally associated with old age.

But babies can be born with cataracts, and they need to be treated right away.

Parker, who's almost 2, and her 7-month-old sister, Shay, are unusually comfortable during an eye exam. They're used to it because they were born with cataracts.

Their father, Joe Caruso, was also born with the condition. He and his wife, Natalie, say their older daughter's diagnosis was unexpected.

Dr. William Anninger of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said cataracts in babies are rare.

Parents should be on the lookout for a baby that is visually engaged.

"By around 2 TO 3 months of age you want your baby to be really locking on to you, following you about the room," Anninger said.

The Caruso sisters had their cataracts surgically removed.

Anninger said if vision is impaired, surgery must be done early in life.

"If you leave it in, the child will be blind in that eye even if you remove it, for example, at a year age, because if you leave them with no vision for the first year of life, that eye will not be able to see," Anninger said.

The Carusos said their girls are seeing well with the help of contact lenses.