Why is it important to treat childhood cataract early?
The presence of cataract in a child does not let the eye get proper visual stimulus to develop. This prevents the normal development of the eye, especially if the cataract is present in only one eye. This condition is known as amblyopia or lazy eye. Therefore it is important to treat this condition at the earliest to prevent and to treat amblyopia. What are the methods of treatment for childhood cataract? The treatment options are: • No surgery with periodic follow up • Cataract removal without intraocular lens implant • Cataract removal with intraocular lens implant What factors decide the treatment option and the timing of surgery? The treatment option and the timing of surgery will be decided by the ophthalmologist, based on the following factors: • Age of the child • Density of cataract • Whether cataract involves one eye or both eyes If the cataract is not very dense and the child is able to see through it, then the surgery may not be required or it may be deferred till the child
