Three generations of a Huangshi family suffer from cataracts. Experts: One-third of congenital cataracts are hereditary

When Ms. Wei from Huangshi, Hubei, accompanied her granddaughter to see an eye doctor, both were diagnosed with congenital cataracts and needed surgery. Later, her son was also diagnosed with congenital cataracts, but the condition was mild and did not require surgery for the time being. On February 8, Ms. Wei, whose vision reached 0.8 on the first day after surgery, exclaimed, "I have never been able to see people more than two meters away clearly in my life, but now I am old, I can finally see them clearly." Her granddaughter Hanhan, who had cataract surgery on her left eye, also recovered her vision to 0.8 after surgery.

Ms. Wei, 66 years old this year, has had poor eyesight since birth. She always thought she was nearsighted and never had a systematic checkup. Her granddaughter Hanhan (pseudonym) was found to have vision problems during a school physical examination. During the winter vacation, the family took Hanhan to the hospital for a checkup, and Ms. Wei also had a checkup. It was found that Hanhan had congenital cataracts, while Ms. Wei had congenital cataracts and senile cataracts, and both needed surgical treatment.

Dr. Wang Yong, deputy director of Wuhan University Aier Eye Hospital and director of the Cataract and Presbyopia Department, said that about one-third of congenital cataracts are caused by genetic factors. Sure enough, Hanhan's father, Mr. Xu, was also diagnosed with congenital cataracts, but the condition was mild and no surgery was needed for the time being.

On February 7, the grandparents and grandchildren underwent cataract surgery.

"Congenital cataracts are one of the main causes of blindness and visual disability in children, with an incidence rate of about 0.5‰ in infants and young children, which seriously affects children's growth and learning. If not treated in time, it will also have an adverse effect on their future work. However, most patients with congenital cataracts develop the disease slowly and generally do not feel any discomfort, especially children, who will not tell about their condition, so it is easy to ignore their children's eye problems." Dr. Wang Yong introduced that as parents, they should carefully observe their children's every move in daily life.