cataracts

[lucyp]

Hello - Does anyone else out there have a bubby with cataracts?? My son was born with bilateral cataracts . He is now nearly 5months old and wears contact lenses. We were wondering if there were any ohter mums or bubs with similar experiences...... :)

[draught]

Hi Lucy
My babies don't have cataracts but a good friend of mine was born with them and has had fantastic treatment from the Sydney Eye Hospital all her life. I am telling you about her so that you will know that there can be a bright future ahead for your little one. My friend is now 24, has played state rep hockey, the violin and piano (all that sheet music with small notes), skis, snowboards, has just finished Uni, parties hard, and is currently on her way around Europe having adventures. I believe that she has only very limited vision in one eye but the other is fine and, as you can see, it hasn't slowed her down at all in having a great life with heaps of adventures and success.

Sorry I can't help with shared experience of what is it like to cope, but I hope that hearing a success story gives you some support anyway.

[lucyp]

Thanks Theresa for taking the time to post that reply of a good story!! OUr little one is doing very well but it is encouraging to hear of others who have participated in a normal life and achieved success inspite of their "visual" issues :) I appreciate your response.

[Jennifer05]

Hi,

My son who is 16months old has a cataract also which is in his right eye. we picked it up at about 3 weeks of age. The eye doctor has told us that it is an ANterior Polar Cataract, which apparently cannot be operated. We have to patch his good eye every couple of days ( which is EXTREMELY frustrating as he pulls it off straight away!!) We arent' sure what is gonna happen yet, and he can't really tell us how bad his vision is. It is very frustrating not knowing, not being able to operate!! I will have to see as he gets older, about what is going to happen, but until then, who knows???

[draught]

I spoke to my friend's mother last week about her cataract experience. She also had to patch her daughter's eye when she was little and did it religiously until she was about 4 years old. They used to sit and watch TV shows that she liked, read books that she liked etc, when the patch was on, to make it a "fun" time. What happened as a result was that the daughter developed amazing peripheral vision around the cataract, which is what has enabled her to play sport, read music etc. She never had an operation and has not needed one due to the patch wearing - so keep it up - it is worth it!