Remove the nylon in my eye

Question: My child is 4 years old and whenever he wakes up he always ask me if I cover his eye with nylon. I initially did not take it serious until he keeps saying remove the nylon in my eye. We visited the doctor and it was confirmed he has cataracts. I used to think that was an elderly people sickness, but am so confused right now. Is surgery the only option?

Doctors  Response: Cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that can impair vision. It is caused when the Light rays enter the eye, passing through the cornea, the aqueous humor :transparent fluid in the front of the eye: and then the pupil and into the lens. The lens bends the light rays to focus objects onto the retina lining the back of the eye. From there, the image passes through the retinal cells, into the optic nerve, and finally to the back of the brain which process the images.

Cataracts  occur when there is a buildup of protein in the lens that makes it cloudy. This prevents light from passing clearly through the lens, causing some loss of vision. Since new lens cells form on the outside of the lens, all the older cells are compacted into the center of the lens resulting in the cataract.

Although, age related cataracts are the most common types of Cataracts but there are other types like congenital cataracts which are seen in babies born with cataracts as a result of an infection, injury, or poor development before they were born, or they may develop during childhood. There are other types namely secondary and traumatic cataracts which develop as a result of other medical conditions, like diabetics, or exposure to toxic substances, certain drugs (such as corticosteroids or diuretics), ultraviolet light, or radiation and injury to the eye

Other factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing cataracts include cigarette smoke, air pollution, and heavy alcohol consumption.

Vision can be corrected to an acceptable level with a change in prescription, eyeglasses, including bifocals or contacts, may be prescribed, eliminating the need for surgery at that time.

However if the vision cannot be corrected with new glasses and cataracts still interfere with your child daily life, you may not have the choice than to do cataract surgery, which involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear, artificial one.

Cataract surgery is usually conducted on an outpatient basis and is very successful in restoring vision.