Cataracts
Ear, Eye & Head Conditions
FACTS:
- A cataract is a clouding area over the front part of the eye - an area that is normally transparent.
- They can affect either one eye or both eyes.
- Some cataracts are small and do not cause any visual symptoms.
- Other times they can cause visual problems in children.
- Cataracts in children are uncommon.
- A child may be born with the disease or it may develop later in life.
- Cataracts may be caused by trauma, infection, diabetes, poisoning, and from other eye diseases, such as glaucoma.
SYMPTOMS:
- The center of a child’s eye might look cloudy or white, or like someone poured milk into the eye.
- A child might complain of feeling something scratchy in their eye.
- If an infant fails to show visual interest in the world around him, a cataract or other visual impairment might be present.
TREATMENT:
- Specific treatment for cataracts will be determined by an ophthalmologist (MD), a medical or osteopathic doctor who specializes in the eye. They perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease, prescribe medication, and perform surgery.
- In some cases, vision loss caused by a cataract may be aided by eyeglasses.
- Surgical removal of cataracts is often recommended in infants and children. This surgery must be done by a highly trained eye surgeon.
