Aphakia
Video
Aphakia (a-FAY-key-ah) is the term used to describe an eye that does not have the natural lens.
Babies are rarely born with aphakia. It most often occurs as a result of surgery to remove congenital cataracts (clouding of the eyes’ lens, which can block light from entering the eye and focusing clearly).
Congenital cataracts usually develop as a result of infection of the fetus, or because of genetic reasons. It is often hard to figure out the exact cause of these cataracts, especially if only one eye is affected.
How is Aphakia treated?
It is very important to remove cataracts soon after they are detected. Once this is done, treatment of the eye(s) with aphakia should start promptly in order to give the eye its best chance for good vision. This treatment usually begins with glasses, but contact lenses are often the best choice for babies.
At the Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Clinic, we offer different specialty contact lenses for the treatment of aphakia. These are contacts that are safe for your baby to sleep in, and can be used for a longer period of time than traditional contact lenses.
If your child has aphakia, he/she will likely have to do other treatments in addition to wearing contact lenses. This might include using eye drops or an eye patch, or both. The goal is to make sure your child develops good vision in the eye with aphakia, and to prevent the eye from becoming lazy.
Contact Us
If your child has aphakia, he/she will need ongoing care from eye care specialists. For more information or to set up an appointment for your child, please call the Department of Ophthalmology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, at 513-636-4751.
Rev. 10/09
