r/eyedoctors

My child is scheduled for an hour long surgery for intermittent bilateral exotropia. We did patches for several months and saw an improvement but the opthalmologist is insisting it needs surgery, and it needs to be now. They will be ten months old at the time of surgery. I've found a few studies on repeated exposure in children under five and potential effects on central nervous system development. Im looking specifically for a single exposure under one year. Child is also a redhead, if that is relevant. Thank you.

I (19) have really bad vision and have always had the usual lil floaters. However within like 3 months my floaters have gotten so much worse and I’ll have lil white specks (flashes?) happen briefly. It seems like obvious detachment. I’ve gone to specialists twice though and all they said is that I have lattice. (Which is mild and under control) Is there anything else that can cause an increase in floaters?

Hey everyone, new here. So a few days ago I went in for an eye test and they dilated my eyes with a drop. Next day I noticed this static/noise type thing in my vision, kind of like tv static. It's been 5 days now and it's still there, mostly noticeable in the dark or on dark backgrounds, less during the day. Just found out this might be visual snow and honestly wasn't aware this was even a thing before this happened. Did anyone else get this from an eye exam? Did it go away for you or is this just something I'm dealing with now? Kinda freaking out not gonna lie, any help or info is appreciated.

I am a 19-year-old male living in a small island nation. I was born with bilateral congenital cataracts (both eyes). Unfortunately, due to a lack of access to medical facilities here, I have never received any treatment or surgery for them.

I have lived with this my whole life, but I have finally reached a point where I want to take control of my future and get the surgery to improve my vision and my quality of life. I have started saving money and am looking to travel abroad for the procedure because we don’t have the specialists here.

1. The Surgeon: Pediatric or Adult?

I know that if I were an infant, a pediatric ophthalmologist would handle this. But now that I am 19 (almost 20), I am confused about who is actually qualified to operate on me. Should I be looking for a Pediatric Ophthalmologist (who specializes in children's eye conditions) or a general Adult Cataract Surgeon (who usually operates on older patients with age-related cataracts)? Is the surgical technique (phacoemulsification) the exact same, or does my age change the complexity?

2. Is it too late? Can it be successful?

I am terrified that because I have had these cataracts since birth, my brain might not be able to process the new clear images even if the surgery is physically successful. Is there a high risk of "lazy eye" (amblyopia) or permanent vision loss even after the lens is removed? Is it easy for a surgeon to operate on a lens that has been there for 19 years, or is it much more difficult than a standard cataract?

3. Choosing a Destination (India vs. Expensive options)

I cannot afford European or US prices. I have been looking at India because I hear they have great medical tourism and the costs are much more affordable. However, I am finding mixed reviews online which makes me feel unsafe and uncertain. Does anyone have experience with specific, trustworthy eye hospitals in India that handle complex cases like mine? Or should I consider somewhere else that is affordable?

Honestly, I am really scared.

I know I need to do this to have a better life and stop feeling like a burden to my family, but I am paralyzed by the fear of it not being successful. My life feels like it hangs on this one surgery. Thanks