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Warning-sign checks

Congenital cataract: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Severe swelling, marked pain, or sudden loss of vision requires emergency assessment.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Arrange an urgent assessment if you notice a white or grey pupil, a repeated white reflection in photographs, or a missing red reflection in one eye.

    These signs do not prove that a child has a cataract, but they need prompt examination because several eye conditions can cause them.

    Prompt medical advice is also appropriate if a baby:

    • Does not begin following faces or objects as expected
    • Develops a new inward or outward eye turn
    • Has rapid, repetitive eye movements
    • Seems to use one eye more than the other
    • Develops a new cloudy appearance inside an eye

    After cataract surgery, follow the eye team's instructions about urgent contact.

    Seek urgent care for increasing redness, swelling, discharge, apparent eye pain, persistent vomiting, a sudden change in visual behaviour, or an eye injury.

    Routine follow-up is different from urgent care.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Keep planned appointments for vision testing, glasses or contact lens checks, patching review, and eye-pressure measurement, even when there are no new symptoms.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Congenital cataract. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.