It’s lovely to see the newborn opening their eyes to the world, but what happens if something is clouding their vision right from birth itself? Congenital cataracts are essentially rare but severe when a newborn is born with a cloudy lens in one or both eyes. Thus, there can be vision impairment to blindness, if not treated. So, understanding its causes, symptoms and treatment options can be very important in keeping a child’s vision healthy.
What Are Congenital Cataracts and Their Impact on Babies?
The lens in our eyes helps us see well-focused light onto the retina. Congenital cataracts don’t allow this since the lens is cloudy – so light can’t pass through. Thus, the baby ends up not seeing some things clearly or at all; at the extreme, the baby may be blind.
Congenital cataracts can be classified as symptomatic or non-symptomatic:
• Symptomatic cataracts: The baby may show an abnormal white reflex instead of the usual red-eye effect, poor visual tracking, or inability to focus on objects. Cloudiness may be noted in the eye.
• Non-symptomatic cataracts: They are visible signs but such conditions are known to affect vision over time so routine eye checks become necessary to catch them early.
The best cataract surgeon in Perinthalmanna is worth a visit to ensure early diagnosis and the right treatment for your child’s ocular health.
What Causes Congenital Cataracts?
Some common causes of congenital cataracts include:
Genetic mutations or chromosomal anomalies, inherited conditions like Down syndrome Maternal infections during pregnancy with:
1 Herpes virus
2Chickenpox
3 Cytomegalo virus
4Influenza Virus
5Measles
6Polio
7Rubella
8Toxoplasmosis
9 Syphilis
10Maternal health conditions such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) during pregnancy Preterm birth
11Injury during pregnancy
For pregnant women, consulting the best pediatric specialist in Perinthalmanna can help early detection and management of potential risk factors.
Can Congenital Cataracts Be Prevented?
Right now, congenital cataracts are an impossibility in prevention but can be prevented partly by birth:
• Before getting into pregnancy:
• Before even conceiving, get an assessment to check overall health
• Assure there are no vaccines outdated.
• Get STI infection tests including the general infection test
• Understand the genres of genetic risk to your family.
• During the time for curing a baby:
• Early regular prenatal care.
• Always travel strapped to the seat to avoid impact injury due to crashing.
• Good hygiene, while avoiding being too close with infected people.
Early maternal care at the best eye care hospital in Perinthalmanna will significantly lower the chances of complications that can affect the vision of your baby.
How Is Congenital Cataracts Treated?
The most critical thing is early diagnosis and treatment. Babies with cataracts are required to have follow-up visits with a pediatric ophthalmologist who would be able to keep close monitoring of these eyes. The most common method of dealing with a severe cataract is surgery.
Congenital Cataract Surgery
Congenital cataracts are very likely to need surgery in most babies. A specialist in pediatric ophthalmology makes a small incision in the baby’s eye for the extraction of the cloudy lens. After surgery, vision will have to be restored by the following methods:
• Intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted in the baby’s eye
• Contact lenses (special soft lenses in case IOLs are unsuitable)
• Patch therapy, which consists of covering the stronger eye to help strengthen the weaker eye for proper vision development
Conclusion
Congenital cataracts weigh heavily on the minds of any parent, with early detection and timely management, can give a baby a chance to develop normal vision. If you suspect an issue with your baby’s eyesight, do not wait to consult an expert. The appropriate management by the right professional can determine the future vision and quality of life of your child.