Early Baby Cataracts??

Our baby was born on 14th Feb 2008 and she was 13 days early. She was quite tiny at 2.48kg. She is now 4.31kg and doing well, or we thought!? Having had her 8 week check today, the doctor wants a second opinion as to the slight 'cloudiness' within her eyes. The doc said not to be alarmed as this was relatively normal for an early baby. Having done my research on the net (can sometimes be the wrong thing to do!?!) I am now really quite worried as some of the sites I visited suggested blindness!!! Should I be worried??

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

There would have to be major obvious problems for that to be a possiblility.  Even so, babies with major cataracts can often achieve very useful vision.  You asked about the worst possible scenario.  Now with your child - make sure she sees pediatric ophthalmologist and hopefully everthing will turn out normal or else very small cataracts with no long term problems.

MJK MD