When you look into your child’s eyes, you see a sense of warmth. The eyes of a child reflect everything – his pain, his joy – everything is written there. But if anything happens to his eyes, you start panicking. And there’s every reason to panic. Eyes are extremely sensitive and any eye problem in kids should be dealt with carefully. There are numerous eye problems that can impair vision in children and if such a condition is suspected, they should be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist for further evaluation and diagnosis.
What Are the Common Eye Problems in Children?
Here are some of the commonly observed eye problems that affect children:
1. Astigmatism
It is a condition that affects a child’s vision due to an improperly shaped cornea. If a child suffers from this condition the objects both at distance and near appear blurred.
Cause
The front portion of the eye (cornea) has a physical defect in its curve in the form of irregularities or flatness. When light enters the eye, the irregularities do not allow it to focus sharply on the retina resulting in a blurred vision. It could also be caused by an irregularly shaped lens.
Treatment
If it causes blurred vision, glasses are recommended.
2. Strabismus
This condition is commonly known as ‘crossed eyes’. In this condition, one or both eyes are misaligned by turning in, out, up, or down. The eyes are unable to aim at the same object consistently. If this condition is left untreated and a child’s visual function reaches full maturity, then it will be impossible to treat it.
Cause
This condition is genetic but can also be caused due to trauma to the muscles that control the movement of the eyes or the nerves.
Treatment
Strabismus does not recover on its own. Eye patching is used to force the brain to work the misaligned eye harder. In severe cases, surgery is suggested
3. Short-Sightedness or Myopia
It is a refractive eye problem where children are able to clearly see objects that are close. But, the objects at a distance appear blurry.
Cause
The condition is genetic and an individual may get affected by it in early childhood too. The cause behind myopia is that light cannot focus on the retina and hence the object placed at a distance appears blurry. In this condition, the light rays focus images in front of the retina and not on the retina. This may be due to the eyeballs being too long or the cornea having too much curvature.
Treatment
Vision can be corrected with prescriptive lenses that need to be changed as the condition progresses.
4. Long-Sightedness or Hyperopia
This condition is the opposite of myopia. If a child is affected by this condition, the objects placed at a distance will appear clear to him but the object nearby will appear blurry.
Causes
The eyeballs in individuals with hyperopia are a little shorter than normal and the cornea has a flatter curve. This causes light rays to have a focal point that is beyond the retina when looking at objects that are close by. This condition could be genetic.
Treatment
Prescriptive lenses bring the focus sharply to the retina.
5. Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)
This condition develops when one of the eyes is poorly developed even though it looks normal. The lazy eye functions less and the brain eventually turns it off and stops receiving signals from it.
Cause
It is most often a result of strabismus or when one eye functions much better than the other (in cases where there is a significant difference in refractive errors). The weak stimulation from the lazy eye stops the neurological pathways from developing before it reaches full potential.
Treatment
Treatment involves making the lazy eye work harder to stimulate the neurological pathways. Use eye patches and special glasses to block the stronger eye.
6. Cataract
A cataract is a condition where the normally clear lens of the eyes gets unclear. Cataracts can severely obstruct light, leading to vision problems in a child or sometimes may even result in blindness in a child.
Cause
Sometimes, the condition can be due to inheritance. Some babies have had this eye disease since birth. The clear lens of the eye appears cloudy as the protein that forms the lens clump together.
Treatment
If the vision is severely hampered, surgery may be required to remove the clouded lenses. The natural lenses are replaced with an intraocular lenses.
7. Ptosis
In this condition one or both of the upper eyelids droops. It covers the eye slightly and blocks the visual field. It can eventually lead to a lazy eye.
Causes
It is hereditary in nature and a child may be born with the condition.
Treatment
It does not improve over time and would require corrective surgery to improve vision.
8. Pink Eye or Conjunctivitis
It is an inflammation or redness of the conjunctiva, which is the clear thin mucous membrane covering the whites of the eye. Pink eye is a common disease among school children and can be contagious when caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
Cause
Commonly bacteria or viral infection of the conjunctiva causes Conjunctivitis. Allergies too cause pink eye. The infection is spread by physical contact while playing or using the objects.
Treatment
Antibiotic eye drops to control the infection.
9. Nystagmus
People with this condition have involuntary, rapid, and recurring movement of the eyes. Instead of fixing the object the eyes rapidly swing from side to side. They may also move circularly or up and down.
Cause
Children with nystagmus are often born with the condition. The area of the brain responsible for eye movements doesn’t function normally and hence causes rapid motion. Injuries, brain tumours, certain medications, and multiple sclerosis can also cause it later in life.
Treatment
Treat the underlying cause to treat nystagmus.
10. Chalazion
It is a small painless swelling in the eyelid. A blockage in the gland of the upper or lower eyelid causes this problem. It can cause redness and swelling of the eyelid sometimes accompanied by the yellow ooze.
Cause
Blocked oil gland in the eyelid.
Treatment
This condition may resolve on its own. it also responds well to eye drops or warm compresses. Severe cases might require surgery.
Why Is Early Diagnosis Important
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent the eyes from damaging further. Improper vision and inability to see the blackboard can make it difficult for children to learn and they may face difficulties in school. Sudden signs of eye problems in children can also be an indicator of other complications in the brain or the onset of type 1 diabetes. Look for the common signs of eye problems in kids to make sure he gets the earliest treatment possible. Some of the signs of eye problems in children include:
A white appearance in one or both the pupils.Continuous discharge or watering in the eyes. One of the eyes seems fixed while the other moves frequently. Oversensitivity to light or glare. The child often tilts its head to one side. Read books at a close range and they sit close to the television for a clear picture. The eyes do not look the same or symmetrical, one may look larger than the other. How Can You Prevent Eye Problems in Kids
Ways to prevent eye problems in children:
Good posture while he is studying or sitting.
Avoid exposure to radiation from screens
Green leafy vegetables in the diet.
Low intake of sugar-rich foods.
Consult an ophthalmologist immediately if you find anything wrong.
Maintain general hygiene.
Although eye problems are a cause for concern, timely treatment can avoid any further damage. So, look for any signs of eye problem in your child and take him to a doctor immediately to avoid the condition from worsening in the future.
For detailed consultation, you can contact us at Abhinav Multispeciality Hospital. It is one of the most trusted and best hospitals in Nagpur. You can consult Dr. Bhakti Bhatnagar at Abhinav Multispeciality Hospital in Bajeria, Nagpur. Dr. Bhakti Bhatnagar is a popular Ophthalmologist in Bajeria, Nagpur. The hospital has the best medical facility in Nagpur. The doctor has been practicing Ophthalmology for over a decade. She is one of the best ophthalmologists in Nagpur. The doctor is a qualified Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology, DNB – Ophthalmology, FELLOW OF INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY.