Date:03/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/03/stories/2008100355670600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Baby undergoes cataract operation

Staff Reporter

ELURU: A two-month old female baby from Pedapadu in West Godavari district would never see the world in her lifetime but for a timely cataract surgery performed by an Ophthalmologist Tenneti Jayaraju at ASRAM Medical College here.

The surgery was successfully carried out at the hospital on Wednesday by replacing the cataracts with intra ocular lens (IOL). The infant suffers cataract in both of her eyes by birth.

Dr. Jayaraju said the transparent lens could have become opaque ever since the infant was in her mother’s womb which resulted in light failing to focus on the retina.

The rare disorder may occur in one child per 1,000, he added. Suvarnamma, mother of the child and a farm worker, heaved a sigh of relief on completion of the surgery on her child successfully.