Pediatric cataracts are different from adult cataracts. Adult cataracts can restore vision through surgery even if the lens is very cloudy, and some patients can restore their vision to 1.0 after surgery even though their vision was almost completely lost before surgery. However, pediatric cataracts are different because in the early development of babies, all aspects of their bodies are still in a vigorous development stage. If the retina cannot receive normal light and image stimulation, it is very easy to cause amblyopia in babies, and pediatric cataracts are likely to cause visual disability if not treated in time.
It is generally believed that serious pediatric cataracts should be treated as early as possible and should be detected and treated early. Delayed treatment can result in irremediable form deprivation amblyopia and a lifelong inability to obtain good vision. Of course, if they are not detected at an early stage, then they should still be treated aggressively to save some of their function, even if they are past their prime developmental time.
Many people think that cataracts are not for the elderly, how can children get cataracts? In fact, congenital cataract is a common blinding eye disease in children, which seriously affects the vision development of infants and children, and is an important cause of blindness and amblyopia in children. In China, about 10%-38.8% of infant and child blindness is related to congenital cataract, accounting for the second cause of blindness.
I. How is pediatric cataract usually caused?
1. Genetic factors. Most of them are autosomal dominant. Metabolic diseases in newborns. Such as diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia, galactosemia, hypocalcemia due to hypoparathyroidism, etc.
2. Maternal infection. Viral infections or medications (such as steroids) in the first trimester of pregnancy, and calcium deficiency, vitamin deficiency and malnutrition during pregnancy may also be related.
3. Trauma. Whether it is a penetrating injury to the eye, impact injury or receiving free radiation or high voltage electric shock, it may lead to cataract.
4, combined with other eye diseases. For example, microphthalmia, microkeratoconus, congenital defects of iris and choroid, etc.
5. Combination of other physical diseases. Sometimes it is the genes themselves that are at fault, such as Down’s syndrome and Marfan syndrome, that can lead to the development of pediatric cataracts.
The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery, which consists mainly of lens aspiration and IOL implantation. For particularly young children, doctors usually only give lens aspiration, followed by glasses and amblyopia training, and then wait for a second surgery to implant an IOL. However, the clinical situation is complex and not all babies need immediate surgery as soon as they are diagnosed with cataracts; a comprehensive evaluation by a medical professional is required.
The correct approach is to go to the hospital as soon as possible if you suspect that your child has an eye abnormality. If the doctor does not think that immediate surgery is needed, he or she will usually recommend regular follow-up examinations.
Second, how to detect and prevent pediatric cataract?
1.Under normal circumstances, if you take a toy or something brightly colored and place it in front of a 3-month-old baby, its eyes or head will follow the movement of the toy. within 1 year of age, although the baby’s vision is poor, it can take the initiative to pick up the toys around it or pick up food. If these abilities are significantly weakened, the baby should go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible.
2, normal development of infants, the size of the two eyeballs should be basically the same, the cornea (black eye) transparent, with a flashlight pupil visible obvious pupil diastolic response. If you find that the child’s pupil area becomes white or gray and lusterless, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible to ask the doctor for an examination.
3. If you find that your child’s eyes are shaking involuntarily, medically called “nystagmus”, it is likely that he or she has an eye disease and should be examined by an ophthalmologist at the earliest opportunity.
The mother-to-be should do: 3 months before pregnancy to achieve a regular life, do not smoke, nor passive smoking, do not drink alcohol, less exposure to radiation things. Eat a balanced diet during pregnancy, eat more vitamin-rich foods, and take more supplements of folic acid, calcium and trace elements to prevent congenital cataracts in children caused by malnutrition. Avoid colds, rubella and other diseases during pregnancy, and avoid medications, especially those that can enter the fetus through the placenta.
Once a pediatric cataract is formed, parents must pay enough attention to it. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid delaying the best treatment time.