Jake's story
(child, bilateral cataracts)
My son Jake is 4 years old, he has bilateral congenital
cataracts – which means the cataracts are in both eyes
and were there from birth. They were inherited from his
father.
Jake's cataracts are found
Jake's cataracts were discovered quite late; he was checked
for them when he was a newborn baby due to the family history,
but the doctor did not pick up on them at that time. The
cataracts were discovered at a routine eye examination last
year for the recurrent cysts that Jake kept getting on his
eyelids.
Jake was then referred to the consultant at the orthoptic
department. We met with the consultant and Jake's vision was
also checked. It was found that the cataracts were affecting
Jake's vision a lot (which explained why he was always falling
over) so Jake was put on the list for operations to both eyes
to have the cataracts removed and IOLs fitted (artificial lens
implants).
Over the past few months I have had an emotional
roller-coaster to say the least. I have been sad, depressed,
anxious, nervous, worried and also relieved. Relieved that they
did discover the cataracts in time for them to be operated on.
When the cataracts were discovered I thought that Jake would go
blind, but I found out that it is hopeful that with the surgery
and IOLs and glasses that Jake had a good chance of adequate
vision. It may not be perfect, but whose is? Mine isn't
– I have to wear glasses for distance.
The first operation
Jake had the operation on his left eye in December 2007. He
had the cataract removed and IOL fitted. He will be having the
other eye operated on in February 2008. He was in the operating
theatre for a couple of hours – and it felt like he had
been gone forever – it was an anxious wait. When I went
to meet him in recovery he looked so sad, he was sleepy and
irritable and had a big eye shield on his eye that he tried to
rip off. I gave him lots of cuddles and kisses and he calmed
down, and after a few minutes he asked for chocolate –
so I knew he was OK then!!
After the op
The consultant said that Jake's cataract was attached to
his pupil and iris which meant a little bit of the cataract and
membrane had to be left in his eye as he couldn't snip it off
as it was a part of Jake. The consultant said that Jake's pupil
might look a bit misshapen – although it looks OK to me.
I was allowed to take Jake home the same day after he had
eaten, drank and had a wee.
The first night home (after the operation) I didn't have to
do any drops. The next day we had to take him back to the
hospital for the consultant to check on his eye. He took the
eye shield off Jake and I expected Jake's eye to look
horrendous, however, it didn't look too bad. I could see the
mark where his eye had been cut to remove the cataract, and his
eye was bloodshot but it looked better than I had imagined.
Eye drops
Now to talk about the drops! We were given a bag from the
hospital with three lots of drops in and also an ointment. The
drops had to start the day after the operation – to be
done every hour for 24 hours a day (even through the night) for
the first few days. After that it was every 2 hours up until
11pm at night, when I then had to put an ointment on Jake's
eye. They gradually reduced and at present we are doing them 4
times a day.
Don't be scared or daunted by the drops; when I found out
the frequency of them I was absolutely dreading it, but it
quickly gets a lot easier and it is worth it if it helps your
child to see. Jake wasn't the most co-operative at first, but
he has got used to them now. Children can surprise you
sometimes; I didn't think he would ever get used to them but he
lies on the settee ready, and he even looks at the clock
and says: ‘the big hand is on the 12, drop
time!’
Jake will be having his other eye operated on in February
and now that I know what to expect I imagine that I won't be
such a nervous wreck like I was the last time!
Jake is doing well and will be fitted for glasses at his
next eye check-up.
with love from Jake's Mum
Last updated: 26/02/08
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Childhood Cataract Network
