Treatment of Cataracts in Children
Treatment of cataracts in children is a complex process that often involves surgery followed by long-term visual rehabilitation. Unlike adults, where treatment is usually straightforward, treatment of cataracts in children requires careful coordination to support ongoing eye and brain development.
1. Surgical Removal
Doctors usually recommend surgery for visually significant cataracts as early as possible — ideally within the first few weeks or months of life — to prevent long-term vision impairment and support normal visual development. The operation involves removing the cloudy lens under general anaesthetic. In younger children, especially infants, doctors often delay implanting an artificial lens. Instead, they may use contact lenses or glasses until the child is older and better suited for intraocular lens placement.
In children over two years of age, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation may be considered. The decision depends on factors such as the child’s eye size, level of development, and long-term visual prognosis.
2. Post-Surgical Correction | Treatment of Cataracts in Children
After lens removal, children will need optical correction. This may include:
- Contact lenses (commonly used in infants)
- Thick glasses for older children
- Intraocular lenses (IOLs) if not already placed
These options help focus light onto the retina, restoring visual input to the brain. Even small lapses in wearing corrective lenses can lead to amblyopia, especially in younger children.
3. Patching and Visual Therapy
In unilateral cataracts or where one eye is weaker, occlusion therapy (patching the stronger eye) is necessary to force the brain to use the weaker eye. This encourages balanced visual development and helps prevent amblyopia.
4. Ongoing Monitoring | Treatment of Cataracts in Children
Follow-up care is lifelong. Regular eye exams ensure the eye is growing properly, that refractive errors are corrected, and that secondary complications like glaucoma or posterior capsular opacification are addressed.
Parental education is critical. Ensuring that patching, medication, and lens correction are consistently followed is often the difference between full recovery and lifelong vision impairment.
Treatment of cataracts in children is a multidisciplinary effort involving surgeons, orthoptists, optometrists, therapists, and parents. With dedication, even children with dense cataracts at birth can develop strong, functional vision and lead active lives.
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