Cataracts in Infants and Toddlers (Congenital Cataracts)
Charlotte, North Carolina
While cataracts are most commonly found in people over the age of 55, it is possible for your infant or toddler to develop the condition. When cataracts form in babies, it is called congenital cataracts.
Congenital cataracts are a very rare condition. Only about one out of every 10,000 babies will develop congenital cataracts. The condition causes the lens of your baby’s eye to be cloudy instead of clear. In many cases, surgery will be necessary to ensure that your child’s vision develops properly. However, if your baby’s cataracts only affect the outer portion of the lens, surgery may not be necessary.
Causes of Cataracts in Infants and Toddlers
Causes of congenital cataracts include:
• Infection during pregnancy • Inherited disorder • Drug or alcohol abuse by the mother during pregnancy • Diabetic mother
It is also possible for your baby to develop cataracts in early childhood. This condition is called pediatric cataracts and is generally caused by trauma to the eye.
Treatment of Cataracts in Infants and Toddlers
Surgery for a young infant always carries additional risks, so you should carefully weigh all options before choosing surgery for your child.
Infants who undergo cataract surgery are at an increased risk of developing high intraocular pressure, which can lead to glaucoma. It will be important to monitor your child after surgery to make sure this condition does not develop.
Treatment options for congenital cataracts in infants will often depend on whether one or both eyes are affected. The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that babies with cataracts in only one eye undergo surgery within four months of birth. After surgery, your child will require an inraocular lens, contact lenses, or eyeglasses to ensure proper visual development.
Your child will most likely require a patch on the healthy eye to ensure that vision in the surgically repaired eye develops properly. If the healthy eye is not patched, your child runs the risk of developing strabismus, or crossed eyes.
If both eyes are affected, surgery is often not the best option. However, if you do opt for surgery, it will most likely be performed on each eye separately.
If you believe your infant might be suffering from congenital cataracts, it is important to have the condition checked out by an experienced Charlotte ophthalmologist who can determine an appropriate course of treatment. Delaying diagnosis and treatment of the condition will increase your child’s risk of serious vision problems.
Please contact the Charlotte, North Carolina ophthalmology offices of Horizon Eye Care today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced eye doctors.
