cataracts in both eyes-my son 8 yrs old

[katony]

Hi everyone--my name is Kathy and I live in san diego.Yesterday my son was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes and surgery will be scheduled as soon as possible.He is 8 years old and his glasses are very thick and every year his glasses were getting stronger.Is there any one here who has had this experience with their child? And was everything successful with being able to see better?

[wrblack]

Yes and no.
Charlie came with built-in cataracts, bilateral congenital cataracts. Cataract in left eye was very large, central, and dense. Was basically blind in that eye. PO (pediatric ophthalmologist) did ultrasound on that eye shortly before surgery because cataract was so bad couldn't tell what was behind it. (With hindsight, I think he was checking for PHPV, which I guess I'm now glad that at the time I was too dumb to worry about.) So, Charlie had his first cataract surgery when he was 6 days old, about 9 weeks before his due date, weighed less than 2 1/2 lbs.
Cataract in better right eye we just watched for a few years. When it appeared to be visual significant, age 3 1/2, got lensectomy this time with IOL insertion.
Would hope your son's prognosis is very good. Has had adequate visual stimulation for 8 years. Eyeballs are fully grown and vision is pretty much hard wired. Would expect him to get IOL's in both eyes, maybe a week or two apart. I would hope his vision will be better with his new eyes than was with his old glasses.
Now, I'm sorry, what was your question.
Regards,
Bob
oh, know a mom of a guy who had unilateral cataract, lensectomy with IOL insertion at about 9 yo. He's doing great. Want her name and email addy? Were you hoping to get in touch with a sensible person with some experience along these lines?

[momofrussell]

Hey Kathy... my son too was born with bilateral cataracts in both eyes like Bob's son Charlie
He had both removed shortly after birth and then bilateral lens implants done at age 4 1/2. Done one eye at a time... a month a part. All went well! Russell also had to have his left pupil reconstructed a few years later after the lens removal... so you can see the cataract left in there that doesn't impede vision. But we watch it and make sure it doesn't grow in his field of vision... I just asked about it actually... looked a bit like it was but it is not.

I would think, like Bob, that the lens implants could be done at the same time or shortly after the cataract surgery? Good luck to you!!! And post up on the progress!!!!

A.