Cataract in children
Cataract is the opacity of the eye’s crystalline lens, which prevents the formation of the image on the retina and negatively affects vision.
Can cataracts form in children??
Yes… There is an important type of cataract that occurs in children associated with certain genetic diseases or without. Diagnosis and treatment are very important at this young age to improve visual acuity throughout life.
How can cataracts be diagnosed in children???
Sometimes parents notice that the child has poor vision, strabismus, or a white dot inside the pupil, all of which can be a sign of cataract in children.
In general, it is preferable to examine children by an ophthalmologist in the first years of life, especially children who are susceptible to infection, such as the brothers of a child who has it.
The examination is initially done in the clinic for the lens of the eye and retina, and the examination is done under general anesthesia for the entire eye
How can cataract affect my son's eyes??
In general, if the opacity of the lens of the eye is severe, the visual formation of the eye and brain becomes incomplete and functional laziness occurs in the eye that is difficult to reverse after age, so it is highly recommended to treat cataracts that affect vision quickly
My child is two weeks old and has cataracts... Is there a cure??
Certainly, if the cataract is severe, it should be treated immediately. Generally, the treatment is surgical by breaking up the cataract and suctioning it out of the eye. The affected lens can be replaced according to the child’s age, either through glasses, contact lenses or intraocular lens implantation when he grows up.
Click to view the video about Selim's journey from cataract to natural life...
Will a lens be implanted inside my son's eye with cataract removal??
The fact that the shape and size of children’s eyes differ from those of adults. ProfDr. Hesham Gharieb will talk to you about all available solutions. The decision depends on the age of the child and the condition of the affected eye and the other eye.
My son was given a cataract and the doctor told me not to implant a lens now!!!
Intraocular lens implantation is usually delayed until after the age of 2-4 years, during which a corrective contact lens is placed that is renewed every month or temporary glasses are worn. Follow-up is also done with the pediatric ophthalmic medical team to treat lazy eye
Will my son need glasses after the lens is implanted??
Yes. Our goal is to always improve the child’s vision and make him see the best vision in all his conditions for the far distance and the distance of play and reading near
