KIDS WITH CATARACTS
Parents, look out for warning signs: Jerky eye movements, white pupils
EVELINE GAN
eveline@mediacorp.com.sg
Just one month after his cataract surgery, Xavier Poh is back to his regular daily routine. Jason Ho
LIKE most people who suffer from cataracts, Xavier Poh had problems reading and writing as his vision gradually worsened.
But unlike them, Xavier was only eight years old when he was diagnosed with a cataract in his right eye last year.
“In class, I couldn’t see the problem sums on the white board. When I told my teacher that, she thought I was joking. I felt quite frustrated because everything looked blurred to me,” said the Primary 3 student, who used to have perfect vision.
Xavier also recalled how he had to borrow his grandfather’s magnifying glass to study for his Chinese spelling test.
Ironically, his 70-year-old grandpa doesn’t suffer from cataracts — clouding of the eye lens which typically occurs with ageing.
KIDS GET IT, TOO
There are currently no local figures on paediatric cataracts, but Dr Quah Boon Long, head of ophthalmology at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) and head of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), estimated that cataracts occur in one in 3,000 babies and children.
KKH sees an average of about 10 such cases each year. From the beginning of this year, Raffles Hospital has seen about three children with cataracts — Xavier was one of them.
His parents suspected something was amiss when he kept complaining of blurred vision and headaches.
RECOGNISE THE WARNING SIGNS
But not all children with cataracts may complain of poor vision, said Dr Quah.
“A child with cataract in one eye may behave normally and not appear to have any problem with his vision. He may not even complain of poor vision because he can see well using the other normal eye,” explained Dr Quah.
So, parents ought to be vigilant of the warning signs. They include a white pupil or opacity within the pupil where the lens is located. A child who cannot see properly may also have jerky eye movements.
According to Dr Lee Jong Jian, an ophthalmologist at Raffles Hospital, paediatric cataracts are generally more common in kids born with other underlying diseases.
A child with cataracts in both eyes is likely to have inherited the condition or be born with medical problems, such as Down syndrome, said Dr Lee. Unilateral cataract, which affects only one eye, could however, be caused by developmental abnormalities.
In some instances, he added, an inflammation of the iris (the coloured part of the eye) can also trigger cataracts. That was what happened in Xavier’s case.
THE YOUNGER THE CHILD, THE MORE DANGEROUS THE CATARACT
Often, prompt treatment is needed to prevent long-term complications.
Cataracts can cause “lazy eyes”, jerky eye movement or squint eye, said both eye experts. This is especially so for young children whose brains and eyes are still developing.
“Basically, the younger the child, the more danger cataracts will pose to his or her development,” warned Dr Lee. If treatment is delayed, the complications may become irreversible even after the cataract is removed.
There are also other psychological and social repercussions.
“A white pupil from the cataract is also a blemish that may affect the psychosocial well-being of older children,” said Dr Quah.
Added Dr Lee: “Everyone needs two eyes for three-dimensional vision and to gauge depth. If the child relies only on one eye to see, he’ll be losing out on things like sports. And later on, even driving a car may pose problems.”
Just one month after his cataract surgery — Xavier’s cataract was removed and an artificial lens was implanted into his right eye — the bubbly and articulate boy is back to his regular routine. Well, almost.
“Dad says no swimming for now. I also can’t join wushu as a CCA because the sharp weapons may injure my eyes. And no soccer either,” he groaned.
From TODAY, Health – Tuesday, 14-April-2009
Parents, look out for warning signs: Jerky eye movements, white pupils
EVELINE GAN
eveline@mediacorp.com.sg
Just one month after his cataract surgery, Xavier Poh is back to his regular daily routine. Jason HoLIKE most people who suffer from cataracts, Xavier Poh had problems reading and writing as his vision gradually worsened.
But unlike them, Xavier was only eight years old when he was diagnosed with a cataract in his right eye last year.
“In class, I couldn’t see the problem sums on the white board. When I told my teacher that, she thought I was joking. I felt quite frustrated because everything looked blurred to me,” said the Primary 3 student, who used to have perfect vision.
Xavier also recalled how he had to borrow his grandfather’s magnifying glass to study for his Chinese spelling test.
Ironically, his 70-year-old grandpa doesn’t suffer from cataracts — clouding of the eye lens which typically occurs with ageing.
KIDS GET IT, TOO
There are currently no local figures on paediatric cataracts, but Dr Quah Boon Long, head of ophthalmology at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) and head of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), estimated that cataracts occur in one in 3,000 babies and children.
KKH sees an average of about 10 such cases each year. From the beginning of this year, Raffles Hospital has seen about three children with cataracts — Xavier was one of them.
His parents suspected something was amiss when he kept complaining of blurred vision and headaches.
RECOGNISE THE WARNING SIGNS
But not all children with cataracts may complain of poor vision, said Dr Quah.
“A child with cataract in one eye may behave normally and not appear to have any problem with his vision. He may not even complain of poor vision because he can see well using the other normal eye,” explained Dr Quah.
So, parents ought to be vigilant of the warning signs. They include a white pupil or opacity within the pupil where the lens is located. A child who cannot see properly may also have jerky eye movements.
According to Dr Lee Jong Jian, an ophthalmologist at Raffles Hospital, paediatric cataracts are generally more common in kids born with other underlying diseases.
A child with cataracts in both eyes is likely to have inherited the condition or be born with medical problems, such as Down syndrome, said Dr Lee. Unilateral cataract, which affects only one eye, could however, be caused by developmental abnormalities.
In some instances, he added, an inflammation of the iris (the coloured part of the eye) can also trigger cataracts. That was what happened in Xavier’s case.
THE YOUNGER THE CHILD, THE MORE DANGEROUS THE CATARACT
Often, prompt treatment is needed to prevent long-term complications.
Cataracts can cause “lazy eyes”, jerky eye movement or squint eye, said both eye experts. This is especially so for young children whose brains and eyes are still developing.
“Basically, the younger the child, the more danger cataracts will pose to his or her development,” warned Dr Lee. If treatment is delayed, the complications may become irreversible even after the cataract is removed.
There are also other psychological and social repercussions.
“A white pupil from the cataract is also a blemish that may affect the psychosocial well-being of older children,” said Dr Quah.
Added Dr Lee: “Everyone needs two eyes for three-dimensional vision and to gauge depth. If the child relies only on one eye to see, he’ll be losing out on things like sports. And later on, even driving a car may pose problems.”
Just one month after his cataract surgery — Xavier’s cataract was removed and an artificial lens was implanted into his right eye — the bubbly and articulate boy is back to his regular routine. Well, almost.
“Dad says no swimming for now. I also can’t join wushu as a CCA because the sharp weapons may injure my eyes. And no soccer either,” he groaned.
From TODAY, Health – Tuesday, 14-April-2009
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