Is cataract surgery safe for kids?

Is cataract surgery safe for kids?

Cataract surgery for babies and children will take place in hospital under general anaesthetic, which means your child will be unconscious during the operation. The operation, which usually takes between 1 and 2 hours, will be carried out by an ophthalmologist, a doctor specialising in the treatment of eye conditions.

Can you go blind from congenital cataracts?

Cataracts in children can cause blindness if they aren’t treated. Your child may be born with a cataract (congenital). Or it may develop later in life (acquired). Symptoms include cloudy or blurry vision, eyes that are not aligned, and eye movements that can’t be controlled.

Can congenital cataracts be cured in adults?

In infants, if the cataract is not removed during the first year of life, the vision will never be fully regained after surgery. In adults, if the aphakia is not corrected immediately, it can be corrected later. In young children, if the aphakia is not corrected, the vision will never develop normally.

How old can you have cataract surgery?

Typically, most cataract procedures are performed after the age of 60 due to the aging process, however some patients may develop cataracts earlier around age 50.

Why was I born with a cataract?

Why Does My Child Have a Cataract? Your baby may have been born with a cataract. Your doctor may use the word “congenital.” It means the lens did not form properly during the pregnancy. Sometimes congenital cataracts are caused by a chromosomal problem like Down syndrome.

What is the reason of congenital cataract?

The most common infections that cause congenital cataracts include: chickenpox. cytomegalovirus. herpes.

Why is congenital cataracts urgent?

Congenital cataract constitutes an emergency. The brain learns to see with the macula (the center of the retina where 20/20 vision is possible) most rapidly during the first 3 to 4 months of life. If vision is severely limited during this critical period of visual development, it cannot be restored completely.

How rare is it to be born with a cataract?

Cataracts in babies and children are rare. In the UK, around 2 to 3 in every 10,000 babies are born with cataracts.