Cataract, known as a disease of advanced age, can also be seen in infants and children. Especially when unnoticed in the early years when visual development is rapid, cataract can lead to permanent vision disorders. Symptoms of cataract can include blurred and hazy vision, sensitivity to light, and eye drifting. Therefore, it is important to detect cataract symptoms early in childhood and to proceed with appropriate treatment.
What is Cataract?
Cataract is an eye disease that occurs due to the clouding of the eye lens, causing vision to blur. This clouding prevents light from reaching the retina properly and impairs visual quality.
Cataract, which usually develops with the aging process, can lead to symptoms such as color fading, difficulty with night vision, and markedly blurred vision in its advanced stages.
Who Develops Cataracts?
Cataract is typically an eye disease seen in advanced ages. Although it is more frequent in people aged 60 and over, it can occur in all age groups. People with risk factors such as diabetes, long-term corticosteroid use, and smoking habits also have a higher likelihood of developing cataracts.
In some cases, cataracts may also develop in newborn infants or during childhood. In infants, this condition is known as congenital cataract and can be present even from the first days of life. It can also develop later due to trauma, certain diseases, or genetic factors.
What is Cataract in Children (Congenital Cataract)?
Congenital cataract is a health issue that can arise at birth or in the early years of childhood. It involves the clouding of the lens, and it can affect one eye or both. Cataracts affecting both eyes particularly can negatively impact the child's normal visual development.
The most significant risk of bilateral cataracts is the inability of the child's visual capability to fully develop. This situation can lead to permanent vision problems because the child cannot receive visual stimuli correctly. Serious vision issues such as amblyopia (lazy eye) are concerns that need to be considered alongside congenital cataract during the treatment process.
Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital cataract in infants or young children are crucial. With early intervention, treating the cataract surgically and following up with solutions like wearing glasses or contact lenses can help the child achieve normal vision potential.
Causes of Congenital Cataract
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Related to diseases the mother experienced during pregnancy
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Medications the mother had to use during pregnancy
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Exposure to X-rays
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Genetic factors
There can be numerous causes of congenital cataract, and it is known that genetic factors play a role in approximately 30% of congenital cataracts.
Symptoms of Cataract in Children
Cataracts in children have visible signs that can be identified with the naked eye. Symptoms include:
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A white or grayish reflection in the pupil
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Difficulty in making eye contact
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Excessive sensitivity to light
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Strabismus (eye drifting)
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Eye trembling (nystagmus)
If one or more of these symptoms are observed, it is essential to consult a specialist doctor.
How is Cataract Treated in Children?
The only treatment method for cataract is surgical intervention, and the timing of the surgery can vary depending on the severity of the cataract and whether it is unilateral or bilateral. Not all cataracts develop uniformly; they generally occur with the entire lens becoming cloudy, but in some cases, they might start in one region and later spread to other areas.
The sole treatment for congenital cataract is also surgical. The surgical procedure differs from the cataract surgery applied to adults. In babies under the age of 2, cataract surgery is performed without the intraocular lens procedure. For babies under 2 who require surgery for both eyes, intraocular lens implantation can be done after age 4. If surgery is needed for one eye, intraocular lens implantation can be done after 2.5 years of age.
Cataract Surgery Techniques in Children
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Phacoemulsification (PHACO)
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Planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE)
Cataract cannot be treated with medications, eye drops, exercises, or glasses. The only solution is to replace the cataract-affected lens with a transparent internal lens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cataracts in babies resolve on their own?
No, cataracts do not resolve on their own without surgery and can lead to permanent vision loss over time.
Is cataract surgery risky for children?
When performed by experienced professionals in suitable conditions, cataract surgery does not pose a risk factor for children. Postoperative follow-up should also be done regularly, just as carefully as the surgery.
Do children need to wear glasses after cataract surgery?
Some children may still need to wear glasses or contact lenses even after intraocular lens placement. The need for glasses can vary based on age and eye structure.
What happens if cataracts in children are diagnosed late?
Catarcts diagnosed late in children can lead to amblyopia. This situation can result in permanent vision loss. Regular eye examinations by a specialist doctor should be conducted from a young age.