FACTS ABOUT CATARACTS
When you think of cataracts, do you envision your grandparents? If so, you are not alone. Many people associate cataracts with older age. However, not just older adults develop cataracts. Here, King LASIK explores the answer to the question, “Can kids get cataracts”?
What Is a Cataract?
A cataract refers to a clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens, which is the result of proteins clumping together, accumulating on the lens. A cataract can develop in one eye or in both eyes independently, but it cannot spread from one eye to the other. When left untreated, a cataract may continue to advance, eventually causing substantial vision impairment.
Cataracts and Kids
Although cataracts typically develop in older adults — more than 50 percent of Americans aged 65 or older have cataracts — the condition can affect children, as well. A small number of babies are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood; this type of cataracts is known as “congenital cataracts.”
Sometimes, congenital cataracts develop around the periphery of the lens, leaving the child’s central vision intact. When this is the case, the cataractous lens does not usually need to be removed. However, if the cataracts are affecting the child’s central vision, surgical intervention may become necessary to restore clear sight.
Treatment Options for Cataracts
Early-stage cataracts in both children and adults can generally be treated with prescription glasses or contact lenses. As cataracts progress, surgery might be needed to remove the cataract-diseased lens and replace it with an intraocular lens implant, or IOL, to restore clear vision after the procedure.
What to Do If You Think Your Child Has Cataracts
If your child is having difficulty seeing and you think he or she may have cataracts, contact King LASIK for help. One of our experienced ophthalmologists can examine your child’s eye health and explain the different treatment options available, if needed.
To schedule a free consultation to learn more about cataracts and the treatment options, please contact King LASIK by calling (877) 551-2020.