ANY ADVICE PLZ

[chaser_fal]

My son was born with dense congenital cataracts. By 2 months, and 2 surgery's both eyes had  a lens inserted. Vision had some improvement. After follow up appointments i was informed scar tissue was blocking vision in both eyes. Noah then went for surgery on his left eye for scar tissue removal. After surgery, i noticed no improvement. We began patch work at 2 hours a day. Last week Noah was diagnosed with ambylopia in his left eye.
Noah is set for scar tissue removal on his right eye in one week. With no sight in his left eye, my question is will he now lose all sight in his right eye as well?
To ask bluntly, does my child have to be blind until the adult lens are inserted when he is 4 years?
Or should i leave the right eye as is?
Please elaborate on your response.
Thank you immensly.
Chassie

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Let me restate:

1. In congental cataracts the retina/macula often does not form properly and is incapable of normal vision with any treatment. This does not mean the child is blind but the best corrected vision migh for instance be in the area of 20/80.
2. The intraocular lens doe not give excellent vision on the retina. It supplies maybe 70% of the focusing power. The rest has to come from glasses or contacts lens and these are extremely difficult to determine what is needed and get the child to wear the glasses.

I have given you about all the information I can. You will need to get further information from you ophthalmologists and reading about the problems of congential cataracts, strabismus, amblyopia.

Good luck
JCH MD

[chaser_fal]

i will look at website. thank you.
Although my son did get new lens's put into his eyes.
With the man made lens would that not provide the essentials for vision?
im sorry if my questions are hard to understand... i dont know the proper terminology.Thank you
Chassie

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

A child's retina and vision is born immature just like the child. Normal development requires a clear image and straight eyes. If the vision is not clear (due to the fact that with the lens removed from the eye its almost impossible to give perfect clarity the vision doesn't develop. Just like if you put you child in a bed and did not let him run around and use his muscles he would not develop normal coordination and development.

I suggest you go to e medicine and read the posting about congential cataracts also go wo webMD and read same.  You need a better understanding of what you're up against.

JCH MD

[chaser_fal]

Thank you for all your help, it is appreciated more than you know.
I dont understand why after the removal of scar tissue my son could not see out of his eye. Later it was called ambloybia.
Was the ambloyia there prior to scar tissue removal? Or does the removal of scar tissue sometimes result in blindness?
I have consulted my eye surgeon. Unfortunatley i find it very hard to understand him. For a second opinon, i would require a refferal. I would then be taken of the surgery list.
In addition there would be a  very long wait on a waiting list.
Thank you.
Chassie

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes anything that blurs the vision entering the eye should be treated. These scar removals (posterior capsulotomies) are very common.

JCH MD

[chaser_fal]

My son is 10 months. Here is his history.
Congenital bilateral cataract removed. New lens inserted.
Thick scar tissue formed over the lens both eyes, affecting sight.
Removed scar tissue in left eye. now there is no vision.
Now has developed ambylopia in left eye.
There is some vision in the right eye.
What is the risk if i do not get the scar tissue removed?
Should i remove the scar tissue in the right eye?
Thank you
Chassie

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Your child has a major major eye problem and most children born with congential cataracts need multiple surgeries to keep the posterior capsule open, they need glasses, sometimes contacts, patching, regular follow up with a pediatric ophthalmologist, special care to protect the eyes. Most do not have "normal vision". A good goal would be to have enough vision to allow him to function with normal size books and without special eduation.

Often there are problems on the back of the eye also. The problem is not the IOL but that the back of the eye macula often does not develop fully which limits the vision.

JCH MD