Beware Cataracts in Infants and Children

Cataract is a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy so disturbing sight. This disease often attacks the elderly. But actually the cataract disease can affect anyone regardless of age limit, including newborns.

Cataract disease in newborns is called cataract kongenitalis. The disease is extremely rare only 0.4% of each birth.

Cataracts in infants (cataract kongenitalis) can be caused by several things:

Descendants (genetic)
Infection (Rubella, Toxoplasma, Cytomegalovirus, Chicken pox) in the first three months of pregnancy.
There is a history of inherited metabolic diseases



While the cause of cataracts in children include:

Conflicts around the eyes
Too much exposure to the sun
Inborn
Reactions to certain drugs



If left untreated, the cataract can lead to blindness. Congenital cataract blindness can be prevented by early detection in infants and children as well as cataract surgery as early as possible.

Detect cataract at the age of the children is very important to prevent the occurrence of amblyopia in the eye. Amblyopia is the inability of the retina receive shadows from the outside, so that it can inhibit the development of retinal children. As a result, it is quite likely the child will suffer from blindness.

Early detection of congenital cataracts:

Give baby toys with bright colors like red, blue, green, yellow
The toy movement in any direction is gradually
Observe the baby's response

Baby's normal response is to follow the direction of the toy is driven and strive to achieve it. If the baby does not respond like that there is the possibility of a baby developing cataracts, immediately consult a doctor eyes of children.



In children there are several symptoms of cataracts:

The size of the glasses often fickle
Double vision
Difficulty in reading or viewing distance
The lens is a clear



Cataracts in children who are not treated can lead to disruption of the learning process that led to the decline in children's academic achievement. Furthermore the child can withdraw from the association because it is often teased by his friends.

How to deal with cataracts is through surgery. Cataract surgery in children is done with general anesthesia. Murky lens removed with a small incision in the eye. In the newborn, cataract surgery can only be performed when the baby is between 2-6 months old.