Cataracts Treatment

Question by Little Francis: Born with cataracts, can I get surgury?
I was born with cataracts, and before I turned one, I had surgery to remove the clouded lens, but because my parents were too paranoid I’d go blind, they didn’t have me get artificial lenses.

I’m now almost 15, and my parents have discusses lens implant surgery. But they don’t know if it would be possible for me to do it.

I’ve had some pretty strange doctors in the past, and I’ve had slits put in my eyes or something like that to prevent pressure from building up, and my eye is also 1/3rd of an average human eye, which makes it difficult also.

But having glasses is just a pain in the ass. My prescription is a +12 in my left eye, and a +14 in my right. With that, my vision is 20/40.

I have no peripheral vision, and no depth perception.

Could I possibly get lens implant surgery, or are my eyes screwed up enough that it probably wouldn’t happen?

Best answer:

Answer by FMJ
Hi there,

You are at a very high risk of developing Glaucome, this is why you have had a ‘’surgical iridectomy” although these days you would normally have a YAG iridotomy.

I think +14 would be pushing what is possible with ICL’s (Implantable Contact Lens). You would need to be assessed in order to establish the calculations required, but if you have already had work done to relieve / counter Glaucoma, there is a strong possibility that you have acute angle-closure glaucoma – this would mean that the anterior chamber in your eye simply would not be large enough to accommodate an ICL.

The way I read your account here is that you have had the cataract Phaco emulisified but no IOL (Intra-ocular Lens) inserted? This is odd, but perhaps due to your age it was decided not to insert. In any regard, the most likely form of correction for you here is to insert an IOL to correct for your hyperopia. You have already had the PHACO part of the procedure done, so most likely you simply require a lens insertion. Any residual prescription could also have surface laser treatment.

I could advise you of some good consultants in this regard if you are near enough to London.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Question by Franchesca81: my son was born with cogential cataracts?
i have a 6 month old son who was born with cataracts. he recently had surgery to remove the cataracts but i was wondering what i did wrong for him to be born this way. i have 3 daughters & they dont have cataracts but i do wear glasses.

Best answer:

Answer by reifguy
most likely you contracted an intrauterine infection un aware of it (toxoplasma,rubella ,cytomegalovirus,herpes ) or could be inherited ,its not your fault dont blame yourself just be sure he has cataract only and no other congenital anomaly

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by Nomie: im 15 and was born with cataracts. Should i get them removed?
i was born with cataracts.i have one in each of my eyes. they are located in the front of my eyes. the left one is worse tha the right. i am supposed to wear glasses but i hate how they look and always forget. i cannot wear contacts becuase my astigmatism is SO bad the astigmatism contacts wouldnt even work! i want to know if it would be a good idea to get my cataracts removed.

Best answer:

Answer by Ekky
it can progress to blindness, its a good idea, i would want to be blind, vision is very important

heres a page from wikipedia about the treatment, removal.

Treatment
Main article: Cataract surgery

Cataract surgery, using a temporal approach phacoemulsification probe (in right hand) and “chopper” (in left hand) being done under operating microscope at a Navy medical centerWhen a cataract is sufficiently developed to be removed by surgery, the most effective and common treatment is to make an incision (capsulotomy) into the capsule of the cloudy lens in order to surgically remove the lens. There are two types of eye surgery that can be used to remove cataracts: extra-capsular (extracapsular cataract extraction, or ECCE) and intra-capsular (intracapsular cataract extraction, or ICCE).

Extra-capsular (ECCE) surgery consists of removing the lens but leaving the majority of the lens capsule intact. High frequency sound waves (phacoemulsification) are sometimes used to break up the lens before extraction.

Intra-capsular (ICCE) surgery involves removing the entire lens of the eye, including the lens capsule, but it is rarely performed in modern practice.

In either extra-capsular surgery or intra-capsular surgery, the cataractous lens is removed and replaced with a plastic lens (an intraocular lens implant) which stays in the eye permanently.

Cataract operations are usually performed using a local anaesthetic and the patient is allowed to go home the same day. Recent improvements in intraocular technology now allow cataract patients to choose a multifocal lens to create a visual environment in which they are less dependent on glasses. Under some medical systems multifocal lenses cost extra. Traditional intraocular lenses are monofocal.

Complications are possible after cataract surgery, including endophthalmitis, posterior capsular opacification and retinal detachment.

[edit] Epidemiology

Disability-adjusted life year for cataracts per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004.[17]
no data

less than 90

90-180

180-270

270-360

360-450

450-540

540-630

630-720

720-810

810-900

900-990

more than 990Age-related cataract is responsible for 48% of world blindness, which represents about 18 million people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).[18] In many countries surgical services are inadequate, and cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness. As populations age, the number of people with cataracts is growing. Cataracts are also an important cause of low vision in both developed and developing countries. Even where surgical services are available, low vision associated with cataracts may still be prevalent, as a result of long waits for operations and barriers to surgical uptake, such as cost, lack of information and transportation problems.

In the United States, age-related lenticular changes have been reported in 42% of those between the ages of 52 to 64,[19] 60% of those between the ages 65 and 74,[20] and 91% of those between the ages of 75 and 85.[19]

The increase in ultraviolet radiation resulting from depletion of the ozone layer is expected to increase the incidence of cataracts.[21]

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by lotsaquestions: Our new grand daughter was born with a cataract in her left eye, does anyone know what causes this??

Best answer:

Answer by saghieh
genetic

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by joahann: Do I have small eyes because I was born with cataracts?
Every eye doctor I see will remind me that my eyes are smaller than normal. Only a few people have been able to notice right away because the difference is less than 2mm diameter. I haven’t seen an eye doctor for a couple of years and didn’t think to ask before. Do you think that the cataract surgery at such a young age (2 weeks) is related to having smaller eyes as an adult?

Best answer:

Answer by princeidoc
you’re asking if the cataract extraction PROCEDURE caused your small eyes? probably not.

Add your own answer in the comments!