Monocular congenital cataracts: psychological effects of treatment.
Visual success in the treatment of monocular congenital cataracts requires early surgery, and aggressive, long-term amblyopia management and optical correction. These children will have their only normally seeing eye patched for a significant percentage of their early childhood years. We have been concerned about the possibility of an adverse psychological impact of this form of treatment. This study utilized two standardized testing instruments to evaluate the incidence of developmental delay and behavioral problems in children treated for monocular congenital cataracts. A total of 22 children were evaluated with one or both of these instruments and compared to a control group of 18 normal siblings. There was no statistically significant evidence of developmental delay or increased behavioral problems in the treatment group.
Smith
K H
KH
Division of Ophthalmology, Scott and White Clinic, Temple, TX 76508.
Baker
D B
DB
Keech
R V
RV
Adams
L W
LW
Rosa
R H
RH
Austin
C J
CJ
Austin
K M
KM
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000517:prevention & control; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D015349:Vision, Monocular