Is treatment for congenital cataract different for those with developmental disabilities?
MAR 12, 2014
Question:
Would treatment for congenital cataracts be different for a person with developmental disabilities and if so how?
Answer:
Congenital cataracts are a complex topic, and the prognosis of surgery depends on how bad the cataract is, whether it is present in both eyes, and the age at which it is discovered and treated. Just as for adults, an artificial lens implant is used for most pediatric cataract cases. For a person with any developmental disability, one important consideration would be the method of anesthesia. Whereas local or eye drop anesthesia is adequate for most young adults, general anesthesia may be advisable for individuals that could have issues with comprehension and cooperation during surgery.