How Is Cataract Surgery Performed on Babies?

The eye disease that occurs as a result of the eye’s lens losing its transparency is called cataract in babies. The eye lens acts as a natural lens located inside the eye that allows light to focus on the retina. The normally transparent lens can become cloudy and opacified over time.

Cataract Surgery in Babies

• It is a surgical intervention that generally needs to be performed as soon as possible after birth.

• Surgery in babies is most of the time performed under general anesthesia. This is an anesthesia method used so that the baby is put to sleep and does not feel pain or discomfort.

• The eye surgeon makes a small incision in the front part of the eye. This incision is generally called a “corneal incision”.

• The eye surgeon opens the capsule (transparent membrane) of the opacified natural lens. This capsule is a thin layer of membrane surrounding the natural lens.

• The lens is fragmented and suctioned within the capsule using ultrasonic energy or other techniques. This procedure is called a “lensectomy”. After the diseased lens is completely removed, the capsule is generally left in place to prevent clouding in the eye.

• After the cataract is removed, an artificial lens, an intraocular lens (IOL), is inserted. The IOL replaces the natural lens, allowing the eye to regain its focusing ability. Flexible or foldable IOLs are generally used in babies.

• The eye surgeon carefully closes the incision, and sutures or adhesive may be used to support the healing process.

• This surgery in babies is a delicate procedure that requires special skill and experience. It is important that the surgeon is an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) specializing in eye surgery in babies. After the surgery, the baby is followed up regularly, and the ophthalmologist monitors the healing process and applies follow-up treatments when necessary.

Why Does Cataract Occur in Babies?

• It can occur due to congenital reasons or acquired reasons that emerge during infancy.

• They can be exposed to eye injuries during birth or at an early age. Such injuries can cause the formation of this disease in babies.

• Some rare metabolic disorders can cause the disease in babies. These disorders stem from abnormalities in the body’s normal metabolic processes and can prevent the eye lens from forming correctly.

• Certain infections experienced in the mother’s womb can lead to the formation of the disease in babies. Infections such as measles, mumps, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus increase the congenital risk.

• Some types can be transmitted genetically. A hereditary disease caused by genes coming from parents can also cause it to develop in babies.

• Babies can also be born with cataracts in babies from birth. It can emerge as a result of problems developing while in the mother’s womb or during birth. This situation can generally be due to a genetic disorder, infections the mother was exposed to during pregnancy, or other factors.