Cataract surgery is not the only way of restoring an eye with a cataract. There are other means like using eye drops, medications, etc. Although cataract surgery remains the perfect way of treating cataracts. You might be wondering if kids can also undergo this surgery. Of course, cataract eye surgery is for both young and adults.
However, as good this surgery is, do you know it has its shortcomings? Do you know it can lead to things that one didn’t plan? Yes! The essence of this write-up is to explain in detail the limitations or shortcomings of allowing your kids to undergo cataract surgery. I want to say that parents should observe their kids very well to know when there are battling with some things. Someone said it could be too early for kids to pass through this surgery because they might not have the strength of holding pain. I don’t know if you agree with that.
Hence, before I jump to the details, let us briefly talk about the meaning of cataracts and what cataract surgery is all about.
What is a cataract?
Cataracts occur when there’s a solid or cloudy zone in the eye’s lens. This eye problem regularly begins when the protein in the eye generates clumps that prevent the lens from sending or transporting clear images to the retina. Don’t forget that the work of the retina is to change the light that comes via the lens into signals. Also, the retina leads calls to the optic nerve before the brain receives them. One fearful thing about cataract is that it occurs bit by bit and if one joke with it, it could result in total blindness.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is eradicating the affected natural lens and replacing it with an artificial one. This surgery is done or carried out by a professional ophthalmologist. I can boldly tell you that everyone that has gone through this process can say something good about it. It is not as scary as it sounds to the ears. In some parts of the world, people get scared whenever they hear “surgery.” You don’t need any flattering words before you believe that the only way to restore one’s vision perfectly is by undergoing cataract surgery. It is the easiest and the safest method of getting one’s eye back to work. Don’t be deceived. People can tell you that all you need is eyeglasses. I am not saying eyeglasses cannot work. But I know that eyeglasses cannot perfectly correct your lens as undergoing this surgery would do.
Disadvantages of allowing kids to undergo cataract surgery
- Vision loss: One of the reasons why cataract surgery is a risk for children is that it can eventually lead to vision loss. Vision loss means when there’s a partial or total loss of vision. Research shows that some children have entirely lost their sight due to undergoing cataract surgery. Apart from the fact that a specialist must perform this surgery, the Ophthalmologist may find it hard to remove all the broken natural lenses. And if there’s a part of the natural lens in the eye before fixing the artificial lens, a problem will occur.
- Bleeding: Bleeding is the loss of blood which be internal or external. It usually occurs when the body gets a wound or cut. Remember, there’s no how surgery can be successful without cutting. Therefore, bleeding can occur after the surgery. I have seen a child bleeding after undergoing cataract eye surgery in Sydney. However, I concluded that the Ophthalmologist did not do a perfect job, not until I saw bleeding as part of the risks of undergoing this surgery in all suggestions provided on search engines. So, it doesn’t matter if the Ophthalmologist did a perfect job. Bleeding may occur after the surgery. And once there’s bleeding, another issue apart from cataract may arise.
- Retinal detachment: Retinal detachment occurs when a part of the eye responsible for forming images pulls away from the back of the eye. It can result from a wound, irritation, damage, or operational changes that affect the vision over time. Remember, the retina is the layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye. So, during cataract surgery, retinal detachment can occur. There are several causes of retinal detachment, but the most common reasons are aging or an eye injury. There are three types of retinal detachment. They are rhegmatogenous, tractional, and exudative. However, each type happens because of a different problem that causes the retina to move from the back of your eye.
- Swelling: Swelling happens when the organs and other parts of the body enlarge. Typically, swelling is the result of a buildup of fluid. This implies that swelling can occur after cataract eye surgery. Therefore, swelling is one of the disadvantages of allowing kids to undergo cataract eye surgery.
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma can occur in kids after this surgery. What is glaucoma? Glaucoma refers to the result of a fault in the optic nerve. When the optic nerve deteriorates, there will be a blind spot in one’s visual field. So, when there’s a fault in the optic nerve, the eye pressure increases. Can you see that this will be too much for a kid to handle?
Closing thought
Dear reader, I hope you’ve seen something you can boldly share with friends and families. Allowing your kids to go through this process can bring up another issue. So, I would advise you to take note of the symptoms of cataracts in your kids by observing them, and you need to act fast. One thing about cataracts is that they can be controlled easily at a tender stage. What am I saying in essence? If the cataract in your child’s eye is detected early, other means of treating it could work. Other means like using an eye drop will be perfect for kids.
Finally, do you have a question regarding this topic? Or do you want to make some contributions? Please kindly drop your question or contribution in the comment box. They will all be treated.
More articles to read:
How to prepare for cataract surgery
Tips on finding the right ophthalmologist for your cataract surgery