Mother discovers congenital cataract in baby in Acre What began as a mother's suspicion when observing her daughter's eyes, revealed a disease that can permanently compromise vision. At five months old, Isadora Sophia dos Santos was diagnosed with congenital cataracts and amblyopia after her mother noticed a white reflection in the baby's eyes during a test with her cell phone's flashlight. ? Congenital cataracts are characterized by opacification of the crystalline lens, the natural lens of the eye, present from birth or developed in the first months of life. Amblyopia occurs when vision does not develop properly due to lack of visual stimulation and can cause permanent loss of the ability to see if not treated early. (Understand more below) ? Join the g1 AC channel on WhatsApp To g1, the baby's mother, Ana Clara dos Santos, said that she found the change strange when she noticed that, instead of the reddish reflection considered normal in photographs and videos, her daughter's eyes had a white color. The observation prompted the family to seek medical attention. Before confirming the diagnosis, however, the family experienced days of apprehension. According to Ana Clara, the first suspicion raised during the consultations was retinoblastoma, a type of childhood eye cancer. "My world collapsed from the beginning. The doctor said it could be cancer. We did an MRI and an ultrasound to rule out this possibility. Thank God, it wasn't. Then she confirmed that it really was a congenital cataract", he recalled. Premature, Isadora was born between 34 and 35 weeks of gestation. Since then, the family's routine has completely changed. READ MORE: Rare genetic syndrome causes 2-year-old child from Acre to have insatiable hunger In AC, baby with glaucoma is at risk of going blind and fights for surgery Family of 1-year-old baby with seizures fights for diagnosis in Acre: 'Dying every day' According to the mother, the baby, who is now 11 months old, can no longer see well and this directly interferes with her development. "She has a lot of willpower. She can already walk, but her vision doesn't help. She's afraid of falling," he said. Ana Clara states that her daughter also faces difficulties when eating and needs constant monitoring. ''Our fear is that the loss of vision will become permanent,'' he said. Ana Clara dos Santos noticed a change in the eyes of her daughter, Isadora Sophia, when the baby was five months old Personal archive Diagnosis Ophthalmologist Arieli Fernanda, who is following the case, explains that congenital cataracts are the opacification of the crystalline lens, the natural lens of the eye, present from birth or developed in the first months of life. This change prevents the adequate passage of light to the retina and can cause childhood blindness if not treated early. ''This disease may have a genetic origin, be related to congenital infections, metabolic diseases or occur without a defined cause,'' he explained. In addition to congenital cataracts, Isadora was also diagnosed with amblyopia, popularly known as 'lazy eye'. ''In amblyopia, the opacity of the lens prevents a clear image from reaching the retina. Without this stimulus, the brain stops developing vision correctly, causing so-called deprivation amblyopia, considered one of the most serious forms of the disease,'' he said. White reflection in the baby's eyes caught the mother's attention and led to the investigation that confirmed the diagnosis of congenital cataract Personal file Early diagnosis of congenital cataract is crucial to preserving the child's vision. According to the ophthalmologist, the visual system goes through a critical period of development in the first months of life. "The visual system goes through a critical period of development in the first months of life. The longer the cataract prevents light from entering, the greater the risk of permanent vision impairment, even after surgery," he explained. The doctor also highlights that the Red Reflex Test, known as the Little Eye Test, is essential for early identification of changes such as congenital cataracts. According to Arieli, in bilateral cases, like Isadora's, surgery is recommended, preferably, in the first weeks of life. When treatment occurs within the ideal window, associated with visual rehabilitation, the chances of vision recovery are significantly greater. Waiting for treatment While waiting for treatment, the family filed a request for Treatment Outside the Home (TFD) with the Acre State Department of Health (Sesacre). According to Ana Clara, when the documentation was filed, in February this year, the expectation was that the surgery would be carried out in Manaus. However, the family was later informed that the procedure was no longer offered to pediatric patients in the capital of Amazonas. As a result, the request was forwarded to hospitals in other states, including São Paulo, Brasília, Goiânia and Fortaleza. Now, the family awaits a new answer about which unit will be able to receive Isadora to carry out the procedure. To g1, Sesacre informed that the Federal District agreed to receive Isadora for treatment and that, at this moment, it is just waiting for the reference unit to define the date of service. According to the ministry, as soon as the appointment is confirmed, the family will be notified so that the necessary measures can be taken for the displacement. At 11 months old, Isadora Sophia is awaiting treatment after being diagnosed with congenital cataracts and amblyopia Personal archive Solidarity campaign Afraid that waiting for treatment would further compromise Isadora's vision, family and friends also organized a solidarity campaign to raise funds and try to pay for the surgery privately. According to Ana Clara, the procedure costs around R$10,000, an amount that does not include travel and accommodation expenses. The baby's mother also said that she has already been informed about the Federal District's acceptance, but said that the biggest concern now is the wait for the date to be defined. "The issue is this wait. It's already taken five months and now I still need to wait for the appointment. I hope that date comes soon, but we are also campaigning because we want her to have the surgery as soon as possible. I just want my daughter to see straight'', he added VIDEOS: g1