Cataracts

On the day Emoree Screws was born in 2014 when the nurses put her in her mom Calli Money’s arms, she noticed that she had a tiny white dot in the middle of each of her pupils. The pediatrician who did her examination explained that the little dots were most likely cataracts and recommended they see pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Jennifer Davidson at Children's of Alabama.

Emoree was 3 weeks old when she had her first appointment. “We were told that she had congenital anterior polar cataracts. At this point, Emoree was too young to really tell how it would affect her vision, but just like all cataracts, congenital or acquired, the first action is to monitor them regularly since cataracts have the potential to grow larger and impair your vision,” Calli said.

To monitor the cataracts, Emoree began seeing Davidson every six months. But when Emoree was in kindergarten, she started struggling with reading sight words. “We noticed her squinting when looking at something across the room and knew the cataract in her left pupil had grown slightly, but up until this point, she had not shown any signs of vision loss,” Calli explained.

After the appointment with Davidson, it was decided that Emoree would get glasses with corrective lenses to enhance her vision and would patch her right eye a few hours every day to encourage her left eye to get stronger. Fortunately, her vision improved, and she was no longer struggling with reading at school. She continued wearing her glasses and patching her right eye for about two years.

In 2023, the summer before 3rd grade, an exam revealed that her cataract in her left eye had grown and was now impairing her vision in that eye. After much consideration and discussion, the family opted for her to undergo cataract removal and artificial lens placement in the left eye. Davidson performed her surgery on October 4, 2023.

Emoree, now 9, is doing well and enjoying school, and she recently finished her first season of 10U softball. “Emoree now has a brand spanking new artificial lens in the left eye,” Calli said. “She still wears glasses, now with a bifocal lens, however, her vision has drastically improved since undergoing surgery. We still follow up with ophthalmology for regular comprehensive eye exams to monitor her artificial lens in her left eye and the other cataract in her right eye.”

Emoree has been a patient of Davidson’s for about eight years now, and Calli says they love her. “She is truly one of the most caring and endearing women I have ever met. She has shown endless compassion and support to our Emoree and formed a treatment plan from the time of diagnosis. We are grateful for her and her team.”

Of course, Calli was nervous for her daughter to undergo surgery, but the experience was wonderful. “The nurses, anesthesia team, and surgery/PACU team were exceptional. I am a hospitalist nurse practitioner, so I can honestly tell when your healthcare workers love what they do, and I have no doubt that every single one of them loved their profession and patients.”

Calli added that even though Children's is a hospital, they have always enjoyed their time there. “From the friendly and helpful staff to the fun and colorful environment, it definitely makes an unpleasant situation easier to endure.”

Prior to surgery, the biggest concern was that Emoree would have difficulty earning an education due to her vision. “We were worried she would be unable to drive or attain a job in the future,” Calli said. “As parents, we wanted her to have the same opportunity that every other child has to succeed in life. Dr. Davidson and Children's have made it so that Emoree will thrive in whatever she wants to do in her life.”