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Written By: Agencies | Updated : February 25, 2015 3:54 AM IST
October 10 is World Sight Day
Cataract, a common disease in the elderly, might also strike children and require a far more complicated treatment, said doctors on Wednesday.
'A malformed lens in a developing foetus is the cause of cataract in infants. It is relatively rare, but I receive about 10 to 15 cases a year,' said Sanjay Dhawan, director ophthalmology at the Fortis Hospital.
According to doctors, it was very important to detect paediatric cataract at an early stage, as the retinal image becomes so distorted that a permanent loss of vision might occur without early treatment.
Dhawan said: 'Children with cataract might eventually need eye muscle surgery for crossed eyes. In cases of congenital cataract, we do not expect the baby to have 100 percent vision, they have to be satisfied with 70 to 80 percent vision.'
However, cataract surgery in children was not very painful, said the doctor.
'As a precautionary measure, parents must get neonatal eye examination of their children done,' adds Dhawan. (Read: 'Cataract surgery is not urgent but is definitely required')
What causes a cataract?
One of the most common causes of cataracts is increasing age which causes the lens to harden and turn cloudy. Other less common causes of development of cataract are injuries, infections, radiations and diabetes. In rare cases, children are born with the condition.
What are the symptoms one need to watch out for?
Some of the symptoms of a foreseeable cataract include blurred vision, double vision, image distortion, sensitivity to glare and the need to change glasses frequently.
What are the treatments available?
There is no scientifically proven medicine that can reduce or dissolve cataracts. Surgical removal is the only option. (Read: Cataracts all you need to know)
With inputs from IANS
