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Clinical medical question regarding congenital cataracts?
I am studying and doing research on this clinical question and have two questions I am having difficulty with. Any help would be great, thank you. By the way-this is NOT a real clinical case. The parents of a newborn infant have been told that their son has congenital cataracts in both eyes and will require cataract surgery to prevent losing his sight. Why is the infant at risk for losing his sight if the cataracts are not removed? I don't understand this? When should this procedure be done to prevent loss of his vision?
Public Comments
- Vision is not fully developed when we are born. The most rapid stage of vision development occurs between birth and approximately age one. For vision to develop properly, the retina (the back of the eye that receives light and transmits it by electric signals to the brain) has receive a clear image. Cataracts can interfere with the amount of light that enters the eye. If the baby has visually significant cataracts in both eyes, surgery should be done before the age of about 10 weeks. If the baby has a visually significant cataract in only one eye, the surgery should be done as soon as possible. This article has useful information: http://www.aapos.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=248
- If the cataract becomes too hard, then it can burst on release toxins into the eye. Because congenital cataracts mature at a faster rate than a normal eye. Generally when the child is 4 months, however judgment should be used when it comes to density and color andwhether or not it is bilateral.
