Parents want their children to be healthy and happy. A healthy life for children also involves their vision. Good vision is essential for a child’s development to learn and interact with the world around them. Therefore, you must take care of your child’s vision and visit eye care specialists when needed.
For your child, you need to visit a pediatric ophthalmologist who specializes in children’s eye care. Here, we will discuss common eye problems in children, how to identify them, and what treatment options are available.
How Do You Know Your Child Has an Eye Problem?
If your child shows the following signs, it’s time to visit an eye specialist. They are as follows:
- Itching or dryness causing frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Tilting head to one side
- Holding objects near the eyes
- Squinting
- Difficulty reading
- Frequent headaches
- Extreme sensitivity to light
- Excessive tearing
- Noticeable eye turn
How Do Paediatric Ophthalmologists Assess Eye Problems in Children?
Before we begin with the comprehensive eye test, we conduct a vision screening test. This test usually involves reading letters on an eye chart. It helps eye doctors to understand how well your child can see things up close and far away. When you visit eye clinics such as Salisbury Optometrist, we do the following tests to detect eye problems in children. It includes:
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Vision Assessment
The doctor does visual acuity to check children’s eyes, starting from birth, infants, and older children. These include assessing the vision of children with non-verbal communication delays.
2. Refractive Error Tests
The ophthalmologist checks the child’s focusing ability and accurately prescribes glasses if necessary. It is useful for children of any age.
3. Motility Examination
It checks the movement and alignment of the eyes to diagnose and manage Strabismus.
4. Bio Microscopy and Dilated Fundus Examination
These tests involve checking the eyes from the front to the back. They are generally done to assess problems such as cataracts, retina or optic nerve disease, and genetic abnormalities.
The above tests help eye care specialists to detect the specific vision problem in your children.
What are Some Common Paediatric Eye Problems that Need A Specialist Assessment?
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Myopia
It results in blurry long-distance vision that begins between the ages of 6 and 14. If your child has myopia, they can see nearby objects clearly. Your children may have problems seeing distant objects, such as whiteboards at school.
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Hyperopia
It is a condition where children can see distant objects clearly. Your child has difficulty looking at things up close.
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Astigmatism
The cornea in your children’s eyes is in an irregular shape, leading to a distorted vision at any distance.
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Amblyopia
It is a condition where the brain ignores signals from one eye, resulting in reduced vision in that eye. It is usually caused by misalignment of the eyes in children.
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Strabismus
In children, when one eye looks in a different direction than the other, it indicates Strabismus. In Strabismus, the movement in your child’s eyes is generally misaligned.
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Pediatric Cataract
It refers to the clouding or opacity of the lens from birth or during childhood.
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Excessive Tearing
In children, excessive tearing is caused by a variety of conditions, including allergies, blocked tear ducts, and even glaucoma.
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Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)
A child with CVI has visual problems that are caused by the brain instead of the eyes. This indicates cortical visual impairment in children.
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Paediatric Glaucoma
It is a rare eye condition that impairs the outflow of aqueous humor in the eyes. If untreated, it can lead to optic nerve damage, visual impairment, and blindness in children.
What are the Treatment Options for Your Eye Conditions in Children?
The treatment for eye conditions in children will depend on the specific condition and its severity. Let us look at some of the non-surgical and surgical treatments recommended by your eye doctor.
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Medications
The eye care specialists prescribe you medicines in the form of eye drops or oral medication. However, it depends on the eye condition of your children.
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Glasses
Glasses can correct myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and other eye conditions, improving your child’s vision.
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Patches
Patches are used to treat amblyopia by covering the stronger eye. In children, these patches force the brain to use the weaker eye and improve its vision.
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Surgery
Some pediatric eye problems demand common surgical treatments such as:
- Strabismus (eye muscle) surgery to treat eye alignment
- Blocked Tear Duct Surgery
- Cataract Removal
- Eyelid Cyst Excision
- Droopy Eyelid Surgery
Tips to Prevent Paediatric Eye Problems in Children
- Your child must have a regular eye exam early to detect any major or minor vision changes.
- A well-balanced diet of vegetables, healthy proteins, whole grains, and fruits may help sustain optimal eye health in children.
- In the digital world, it is important for children to reduce screen time. This one habit can minimize the risk of developing digital eye strain in children.
- Teach your children the importance of hygiene. They should wash their eyes regularly and minimize touching their face after touching other objects to prevent eye infections.
- Keep sharp and hazardous items away to prevent possible accidents to the eye.
Conclusion
As a parent, you should visit an ophthalmologist whenever your child experiences eye discomfort. Through comprehensive eye checkups, our eye doctors detect problems earlier and treat them accordingly. Book an appointment with Salisbury Optometrist for your child’s eye care.