CATARACT IN CHILDREN : RED ALERTS THAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS AN EYE CHECK UP




CATARACT IN CHILDREN
During the course of my practice, I see many children who complain of eye strain, not able to see the black board clearly, making lot of mistakes in school while copying from the board.
Many a times, the parents feel that the child is complaining only to seek attention or to avoid studies or he just wants to wear glasses because his friend got spectacles.... But in most of the cases, the child does have an underlying cause.
Though refractive errors is the most common cause of visual disability in children... Some children also have a cataract in their eyes.
Cataract is any opacity in lens of the eye, which prevents the light from entering the eye and leads to decrease in visual acuity and impaired contrast sensitivity. Cataract in children could be present from birth or could be acquired.
Although it is rare, childhood cataract is one of the most important causes of blindness and severe visual impairment in children and is responsible for 5–20% of pediatric blindness worldwide.
People generally think that Cataract affects only elderly people but it is also seen in children. Many parents find it difficult even to accept that their child requires glasses and when they come to know that their child has a cataract and needs surgery, feel shocked. As a parent all of us immediately get on to a guilt trip and feel.... Why this happened? Where did I go wrong? What could have I done to prevent it?.... But more important is to accept the condition and rectify it.
Early diagnosis and timely surgery followed by visual rehabilitation is the key to successful outcome. So next time you notice any child complaining of diminution of vision, eyestrain or making lot of mistakes in school work or notice any white reflex in their eye in photographs.... Guide them to have a detailed, dilated eye check up.
Most of the brain development occurs in the initial seven years of life and majority of what our child learns is by visual input and hence it is very important to give the child the best possible vision.

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 18, 2020 at 6:15 PM

    Very informative, an eye opener for all

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr. Hemalatha VidyashankarMarch 18, 2020 at 11:45 PM

      thank you, please spread the word . Pediatric cataract is a leading cause for preventable blindness in children and can be treated well if diagnosed at the correct time

      Delete
  2. UnknownMarch 18, 2020 at 10:32 PM

    V informative and eye opening to parents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr. Hemalatha VidyashankarMarch 18, 2020 at 11:46 PM

      thank you. We owe it our children to give them the best possible vision

      Delete

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