Cataracts may effect at any age. In children it may appear at birth or during first year of life due to virus infections or any infection affecting mother during first three months of pregnancy, during this period of pregnancy, medicines should be avoided. If absolutely necessary, they should be taken under guidance treating doctor.
There are many types of
cataracts (congenital) affecting children eyesight can be improved with glasses. Otherwise operation is necessary. Intraocular lenses are not implanted in children under 2 years of age, as a child eye continues to grow till this age. With age, opacities develop in the lens are called cataracts. There are various types of cataracts. Some are in the center of pupil causing difficulty to see in sunlight and facing bright lights at night. Certain types of
cataract grow slowly and take years to develop. Patient can see with glasses for distance and without glasses for reading. The techniques of cataract operations have improved a great deal and depending on needs of the patient cataracts can be done even in the immature stage.
After cataract to see one needs either thick glasses or
contact lenses, latest advancements being intro ocular lens implantation. The artificial lens is implanted in the place where the natural lens lies. The cataract lens is taken out and part of its converging is left behind in which the artificial lens is implanted. It is a myth that one can do
cataract operation with laser, which is not true.
If the capsule, in which IOL is implanted, becomes thick affecting the site, an opening is made with laser creating a window through which the patient can see.
