Cataract is a pathological condition that is characterized by an age-related change in the structure of the lens protein, which leads to a deterioration in visual acuity.. Symptoms occur due to incorrect refraction of light rays. As a result, the image is formed not on the retina, but on other parts of the eye, manifesting as nearsightedness or farsightedness, according to Pannochka, an online publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old.. net One of the varieties of the disease is congenital cataract. It occurs even during fetal development and the child is born with an existing deficiency. The disease can be isolated or a symptom of other genetic pathologies..

Causes and symptoms of congenital cataract.

The disease occurs due to changes during fetal development or in early childhood.. It is due to:.

•genetic factors. If such cases have already been noted in the families of the parents, which indicates the genetic nature;

• infectious diseases of the mother during pregnancy Such factors adversely affect the laying of body structures;

• the use of medications during pregnancy. Some drugs are teratogenic, which can manifest as congenital cataracts..

Symptoms of the disease in children are similar to adults, but it should be borne in mind that the baby is not able to express complaints. Determine:.

•visual changes. Existing characteristic clouding in the middle of the eye;

• violation of attention. In some cases, the child is not able to concentrate on the subject or parents due to the fact that he does not see them well;

•photophobia. The baby will cry and scream if the bright rays of the sun hit the surface of the eye.;

• attempts to return to the subject with only one side. Cataracts often affect the eye, so the child tries to see the object with a healthy organ;

• trembling and periodic eye movements from side to side. This phenomenon is called non-physiological nystagmus..

The child learns the world mostly through vision, therefore, for its harmonious development, it is extremely important to restore the functions of the eyes..

Diagnosis and treatment.

To establish a diagnosis, it is important to collect data from the child's history and information from parents.. Specialists may ask about the course of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as ask about the presence of ophthalmic diseases in relatives. This will reveal the causes of cataracts. The next stage is instrumental research methods. It includes:.

• ophthalmoscopy. The technique involves a visual inspection and its structures. This study provides information about the general condition of the organ of vision.;

• biomicroscopy (from five years old, when the child can follow and understand the doctor's instructions). It is necessary to study the small sizes of structures that cannot be seen by the human eye.;

• tonometry. This method is used to study intraocular pressure and rule out glaucoma in a patient..

Treatment of congenital cataract is performed surgically. This is done using the phacoemulsification technique.. It involves the use of ultrasound to destroy the altered structures of the vitreous body.. After that, the aspirator removes the remains and proceeds to the installation of artificial analogues of the lens. The advantage of the intervention is that the operation can be used from the first days after the birth of the child.. The optimal period is three days. The rehabilitation period lasts approximately two days, usually does not differ from the usual lifestyle of the child or family, but the following rules should be observed:.

• prevent dust or dirt from getting into your eyes;

•avoid sunlight in the eyes;

• perform overheating prevention.

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