Young Patient Overcomes Contact Lens Wear After Rare Cataract

About three years ago, Jennifer and Brian Schwartz’s son was born and as are many new parents, they were overjoyed and overwhelmed.

Dylan was born during the confining and confounding days of the COVID-19 pandemic with a congenital cataract in his right eye—a rarity in newborns. According to a 2020 study in Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease, 20,000-40,000 children are born annually worldwide with congenital cataracts.

Dr. Viola Kanevsky started seeing Dylan in August 2021 when he was barely a year old, after having surgery to remove the cataract. (He later had a second surgery to remove scar tissue.)

When adults are treated for cataracts, the usual course of action is to remove the cloudy, natural lens of the eye and insert a clear, artificial lens in its place. Babies are a different matter.

Their eyes are still growing and developing, which means an implant to replace the natural lenses wouldn’t grow and change with Dylan’s eye. Thus, contact lenses must be used which has its challenges. Babies not only squirm and won’t sit still, they also haven’t mastered speech, so they can’t tell you whether the fit feels good or bad. In addition, parents have to perform contact lens hygiene for them, patch the stronger eye to strengthen the weaker one, and administer eye drops.

“Our journey took a hopeful turn when we were introduced to Dr. Kanevsky,” says Brian, who lives in the New York metropolitan area. “Her exceptional expertise in pediatric vision and specialty lenses was evident from our first consultation. She provided not just medical advice but also genuine care and emotional support that greatly alleviated our fears.”

“Under Dr. Kanevsky’s guidance, we mastered the routine of inserting and removing Dylan's contact lens—a task we once thought was impossible,” he adds. “Her patience and detailed instructions made what seemed like an insurmountable challenge become a daily routine we handle with confidence.”

And Dylan today?

He is an active toddler, who turns four years old in July 2024. When his contact lenses need to be inserted, he usually sits up and opens his eyes wide like a champ—most of the time. Mom usually handles the insertion and removal of his contact lenses.

“He is truly excelling, showing remarkable progress in his vision and overall development,” Brian says. “He’s a typical boy—very smart and funny, and he loves to play hide-and-seek. He has a keen interest in planets, Avengers, Blippi and Power Rangers. He’s a ham, always wanting to be the center of attention, dancing all the time. We have him trying out multiple sports.”

Being proactive about children’s vision

What’s the benefit of early intervention and annual comprehensive eye examinations with a doctor of optometry?

Reducing the risk of serious or even permanent vision loss.

“Any child born with congenital cataracts must be identified early and the cataract must be removed as soon as possible to prevent profound and permanent vision loss,” Dr. Kanevsky says.

Children learn to see and understand the world primarily through vision, which is why she urges parents to be proactive by scheduling their children’s back-to-school eye exams. “Identifying problems and addressing them early gives a child the best chance of optimizing their vision and annual exams keep their most important learning tools—their eyes—in the best possible shape for acquisition of information and skills.”

For the Schwartz family, they are forever thankful for Dr. Kanevsky’s expertise and empathy. “Dr. Kanevsky exemplifies the critical role of human connection and expert medical care in optometry,” Brian says. “We hope our story helps others see the value of seeking professional, in-person eye care. Her dedication is a testament to the profound impact doctors of optometry can have on their patients' lives.

Dr. Voila Kanevsky

Dr. Viola Kanevsky, named #1 optometrist in the nation on the list of America’s Best Eye Doctors in 2022, is an optometrist specializing in custom contact lenses. She has practiced on the Upper West Side (New York City) for more than 30 years. An émigré from the former Soviet Union, Dr. Kanevsky lived in Netanya, Brussels and Miami, until her family settled in New York City in 1979. Dr. Kanevsky lives with her family on the Upper West Side, the neighborhood that she loves best. Earning a bachelor’s degree from Pace University and a doctorate from SUNY State College of Optometry in 1993, Dr. Kanevsky focused on children's vision and specialty contact lenses, completing externships at Walson Air Force Hospital; The Infant Vision Clinic’s pediatrics, learning disabilities, visual rehabilitation, primary care and strabismus units of SUNY College of Optometry; and The Beth Israel Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic. She is the past president of the New York State Optometric Association.