Your child’s vision can be impacted by numerous eye conditions. If you believe your child may have an eye condition or if they have failed a vision test, your best option is visiting a pediatric eye doctor. Having your child’s eyes examined and diagnosed is important for detecting and treating any conditions as early as possible. When an issue is discovered quickly, you can help prevent any permanent impairment. Your child needs a healthy vision to develop properly. Regular examinations are one of the most important steps you can take to protect your child.
The Different Types of Eye Doctors
Having your child’s eyes checked on a regular basis is an excellent addition to their regular medical care. If you are confused by the different types of doctors providing eye care, you are not alone. The basic doctors offering eye care for your child are defined below.
Optometrists: The services offered by an optometrist are a lot like an ophthalmologist. The difference is an optometrist does not offer surgery. Some optometrists have received special training to treat eye problems in children.
Ophthalmologists: This is a medical doctor offering eye care including surgery and medicine.
Opticians: If your child requires corrective lenses, you take them to an optician.
Pediatric ophthalmologists: This type of doctor has received additional training for treating children’s eye problems.
The Importance of Eye Exams
An eye exam is simply a way to check your child’s vision. When your child is born, your pediatrician can check your baby’s eyes before they leave the hospital. If there are eye problems in your family history or you have a premature baby, the recommendation is having your baby checked by an eye doctor. Having your infant’s eyes regularly checked by your pediatrician during the first year is important. Once your child reaches three and one-half years of age, visual activity rests and eye health screenings are recommended.
Once your child turns five, take them to your pediatrician for an eye and vision alignment. If your child fails the test, simply make an appointment with an eye doctor. Your child’s school will sometimes perform regular eye screenings after age five. If your child complains of frequent headaches or you see them squinting, schedule an appointment with their pediatrician. If your child needs prescription lenses, schedule a checkup every year with an eye doctor. The doctor will determine if your child’s vision has changed.
The Symptoms of Eye Issues
The most common symptoms of eye issues to look for in your child include:
- Extreme sensitivity to light
- Difficulty following an object
- Chronic redness
- Constant eye rubbing
- A white pupil
- Difficulty focusing
- Chronic tearing
- Abnormal eye movement or alignment after the age of six months
The signs once your child is in school include:
- Squinting
- Sitting too close to the television
- Inability to see objects farther away
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty reading the blackboard
If you notice any eye problems such as crossed eyes or poor vision, having your child’s eyes examined may prevent any permanent issues. A lot of eye conditions are correctable.
Corrective Lenses For Childen
Both glasses and contacts can be worn by children, including babies. Keep the following in mind if your child wears glasses.
- Let your child choose the frames they like best
- If you have an active toddler, you can help prevent them from losing their glasses by attaching an elastic strap.
- The most appropriate lenses for all children including those who play sports are polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate is a durable, clear and shatterproof thermoplastic providing light and thin lenses resistant to impact. This type of lens will scratch easier than plastic.
- If your child is under the age of two, your best option is plastic frames
- If your child wants metal frames once they are older, spring hinges are a lot more durable.
- If your child has severe eye issues, they may require high-index lenses. This type of lens is lighter and thinner than plastic.
If your baby had congenital cataracts at birth, surgery may be necessary when they are a few weeks old. Your baby may require contact lenses after surgery. Your child may ask for contact lenses at about the age of ten if they play sports or have aesthetic concerns. Your child must be able to insert, remove and clean their lenses correctly to be able to wear contacts. Issues with contacts usually result from poor hygiene and bad habits. Your doctor can help determine the best type of corrective lenses for your child.
Common Eye Problems for Children
If you believe there may be something wrong with your child’s eyes, your best option is making an appointment with an eye doctor. Some of the issues you may encounter are defined below.
Strabismus
Strabismus is also referred to as crossed eyes, lazy eyes, squint and turned eyes. The condition occurs when both eyes are not pointing in the same direction. One eye will be straight, with the other pointed down, out or in. The issue may be consistent, intermittent, appear at birth or develop later. If your child has strabismus, the development of the eye will not be normal. Unfortunately, strabismus is not outgrown. The most effective treatment is started early including glasses, exercises, patching, surgery or a combination.
Your child will need to visit an orthoptist and an ophthalmologist for treatment. Your child’s eyes will be assessed, diagnosed and treated. The purpose of strabismus treatment is to coordinate your child’s depth perception, offer a good appearance and promote good vision in both of their eyes. The definition of strabismus is misalignment. If there is a chronic misalignment present in the same eye, your child may develop amblyopia.
If the condition is detected early, the misaligned eye can be patched to restore your child’s vision. The misaligned eye will be forced to work. You may be able to achieve alignment through specially designed glasses or surgery.
Metabolic and Genetic Diseases
Metabolic, genetic or inherited eye disorders increase the risk of your child developing either cataracts or retinoblastoma. Your best option is providing your child with regular eye exams and screenings beginning at a younger age.
Chalazion
When there is a small swelling in your child’s eyelid, it is called a chalazion. The issue is caused by a blockage in the lower or upper eyelid glands. The symptoms include redness and swelling of the eyelid. A yellowish ooze may be present. It is possible to have numerous chalazia simultaneously in both or just one eye. Your family doctor will recommend an initial treatment. If you do not see any improvement within three or four months, your child will need to visit an ophthalmologist.
If the chalazia are big enough to cover the entire center of the pupil, your child’s vision can be impacted. The pupil is black and located in the middle of your child’s eye. Your pediatrician will refer you to an ophthalmologist.
Refractive Errors
The definition of a refractive error is light being unable to bend correctly due to the shape of your child’s eye. You child will most likely see blurred images. Amblyopia can result from a refractive error. The most common refractive error once your child reaches school age is nearsightedness. The other errors include astigmatism and farsightedness. These issues are defined below.
Nearsightedness: Also referred to as myopia, the condition results in poor distance vision. The treatment is generally either glasses or contact lenses.
Astigmatism: An astigmatism results when the front surface of your child’s eye has an imperfect curvature. If your child is experiencing discomfort or blurred vision, they will usually be prescribed glasses.
Farsightedness: Also referred to as hyperopia, the condition is usually treatable with glasses or contact lenses.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia occurs when one of your child’s eyes becomes lazy. This happens because the picture received is not as clear as in their other eye. The most frequent causes include cataracts (opacity or clouding of the lens), droopy eyelid (ptosis), incorrect focusing (refractive error) and strabismus. If you do not have your child’s eye treated, the result may be poor vision. The treatment is either glasses or patching. If you have your child treated at an early age, you may be able to improve their vision.
Epiphora
Epiphora or a blocked tear duct occurs when there is a blockage in the duct responsible for draining tears from your child’s eye to their nose. Most of the time, the condition will get better without any assistance. If your child is getting consistent infections or the condition persists for more than a year, a minor surgical procedure may be required. Having your child’s eyes examined is important because blocked tear ducts can cause your child’s eyes to water.
Symptoms of a Serious Eye Condition
In many cases, the symptoms of a serious eye condition are very similar to something minor. If you suspect your child may have an eye problem, your best option is scheduling an examination. The symptoms to look for include:
- There is a consistent discharge or watering from your child’s eyes
- Your child’s eyes are especially sensitive to glare or light
- Your child holds puzzles and books extremely closely
- You notice a white or unusual appearance of either or both pupils in photographs
- Your child’s eyes have different appearances such as one being bigger
- Your child’s eyes do not move properly or one eye is frequently turned
- Your child is always turning or tilting their head to one side
- Your child sits too close to the television
Routine Eye Screenings For Kids
Your child’s eyes should be screened for any potential vision problems shortly after they are born, and again at about age three and one-half. Having your child’s eyes checked prior to starting school is recommended. If your child did not have this screening, you can talk to your child’s school to make certain they will be screened the next time the vision technician is at the school. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s eye screening, your best option is speaking with the pediatrician, ophthalmologist or optometrist who conducted the screening.
A complete eye test is recommended if your infant or child has:
- Strabismus (turned eye)
- Developmental delay
- The birth of your child was premature
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- A refractive error leading to your child requiring strong glasses at a young age
Even if none of the above are applicable to your child, if your family history includes a lazy eye or turned eye, the recommendation is having your child checked between two and three and one-half years old. By this time, you child will be capable of having an extremely accurate vision test. If any problems are diagnosed, you will have enough time to effectively manage any issues. If you have any concerns regarding the eyes of your infant or child, your best option is taking them to your local eye doctor like Mt View EyeCare for a full evaluation.