Evaluation and treatment for Pediatric Cataracts

A cataract is any opacity in the lens. A normal lens should be clear. Infants can be born with a cataract in one or both eyes or develop a cataract later in childhood.

Cataracts can be genetic, caused by metabolic disorders or infection, or they can be isolated (most common). Not all cataracts require surgery.

If the cataract is significant enough to block the child’s vision then cataract surgery is performed. If your child has a cataract it is important to have a complete eye evaluation to determine if the opacity is affecting the child’s vision as this can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye).

The goal of the surgery is to provide a clear visual pathway. Depending the age of the child at the time of surgery, a lens implant may be placed in the eye or the child may be treated with a contact lens or glasses.

If your child requires a contact lens our doctors will teach you how to insert and remove the lens and how to care for the lens. Certain small cataracts do not require surgery but my cause anisometropia (a difference in the refractive error between the two eyes). In this situation glasses may often prevent development of amblyopia.

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