Cataract

________________________________________________________________________

KEY POINTS

• A cataract is a cloudy lens inside the eye behind the iris (the colored part of the eye). This cloudy lens can cause trouble seeing.
• Cataracts in young children may need to be removed to help prevent other eye problems. A very young child may be prescribed contact lenses or glasses instead of putting in a plastic lens to replace the cloudy lens until the child is older.

________________________________________________________________________

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye. The lens is located inside the eye behind the iris (the colored part of the eye). It helps focus light and images on the retina, the lining of the back of your eye, so that you can see clearly. If the lens gets cloudy, it can cause trouble seeing.

What is the cause?

What causes cataracts is not known, but many things may make cataracts more likely to form, such as:

• Eye injury or previous eye surgery
• Diabetes or other diseases
• Exposure to high doses of radiation to treat cancer of the head or neck
• Long-term use of medicines such as steroid medicines, cholesterol lowering drugs, and antipsychotic medicines
• Inflammation in the front of the eye (iritis)
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight

A child may be born with cataracts or develop them at an early age. These cataracts, called congenital cataracts, may be caused by:

• A genetic disorder (such as Down syndrome)
• A condition called galactosemia in which the body is unable to use the sugar galactose
• A condition the mother had during pregnancy, such as German measles (rubella)

They also may be inherited.

Cataracts don't spread from one eye to the other, but many people have cataracts in both eyes. The cataract can be worse in one eye compared to the other.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

• Blurry vision
• A need for frequent changes in your eyeglasses or contacts
• Glare from lights, especially at night
• Being sensitive to bright light
• Change in color vision

Cataracts do not usually cause complete blindness. However, it is possible to lose enough vision to make it hard to recognize objects.

How is it diagnosed?

Cataracts are often found during a routine eye exam. An eye care provider will evaluate your symptoms and talk with you about the best treatment.

How is it treated?

Cataracts in young children may need to be removed to help prevent other eye problems. Cataracts in children may be linked to other problems with the eyes, such as retinal disease or glaucoma. This means the vision may not get better after cataracts are removed.

Cataract surgery is done to remove the cloudy lens if the cataract is keeping your child’s vision from developing normally. A very young child may be prescribed contact lenses or glasses instead of putting in a plastic lens until the child is older

Surgery to remove cataracts can be very successful in restoring vision if the rest of eye is normal. Although a cataract cannot grow back, your child may develop a cloudy film over the thin, clear membrane that holds the new plastic lens in place. This membrane can be taken care of with a laser if your child is old enough, or with surgery if your child is too young to have the laser procedure.

How can I help prevent cataracts?

Having your child wear goggles or safety glasses during activities where your child’s eyes could be injured can lower the risk of eye injuries. This can prevent the possible development of cataracts. Wearing glasses with a UV coating that protects the eyes from sunlight might prevent or delay some types of cataracts, but this is not proven.

If your child has diabetes, good blood glucose control may slow the growth of cataracts.