CONGENITAL CATARACTS

Congenital cataracts causes visual deprivation that results in severe amblyopia.

Early detection of cataract involving the central visual axis in the child’s eye may save the vision. This disturbance has a great potential for amliopia development, especially if present in one eye, and in the critical age for visual development, unless operated in time. Changing refraction with amblyopic treatment is a great challenge to visual rehabilitation, after pediatric cataract surgery. Nowadays with better understanding of pediatric eye growth and very suitable intraocular lens implants for child’s eye, special custom calculation for IOL and refined pediatric surgical treatments became an established model for cataract treatment in children.

Visual rehabilitation is much better in pseudophakic IOL implantation, than aphacic convencional correction (glasses or contact lenses).

If cataract is not dense and visual axis is free, the danger for severe amblyopia is less , and the operation could be planned for later.

Multifocal implants are considered at the age from 6, if preserved satisfactory visual acuity, with the aim to “restore” the lost of accommodation, meaning compensation for near, distance and intermediate vision.

This will only give a chance to visual development, but strong amblyopia treatment is suggested after the surgery for full visual rehabilitation.