Pediatric eye health focuses on ensuring optimal vision development and eye health in children. Undetected eye problems can affect your child’s performance both in and out of the classroom. Regular eye exams, starting as early as 6 months of age, are important for detecting and addressing potential issues early.
Early detection and treatment of conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) can prevent long-term vision loss. Therefore, it is crucial to understand pediatric eye health so you can recognize the signs that your child may have an eye problem early.
The key aspects of pediatric eye health include:
Regular Eye Examinations:
Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam around 6 months of age. This should be followed by another between ages 3-5, and again before starting school. After that, annual exams are recommended.
Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam around 6 months of age. This should be followed by another between ages 3-5, and again before starting school. After that, annual exams are recommended.
Vision Screenings:
While vision screenings are helpful for identifying children at risk, they are not a substitute for comprehensive eye examinations.
While vision screenings are helpful for identifying children at risk, they are not a substitute for comprehensive eye examinations.
Early Detection and Treatment:
Early intervention is vital for eye conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes), which can be effectively treated if caught early.
Early intervention is vital for eye conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes), which can be effectively treated if caught early.
Protective Measures:
Protecting your child's eyes from UV damage with sunglasses and hats is important, as children's eyes are more sensitive to sunlight.
Protecting your child's eyes from UV damage with sunglasses and hats is important, as children's eyes are more sensitive to sunlight.
Healthy Habits:
Having a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, limiting screen time use, and ensuring adequate sleep can also contribute to healthy vision.
Having a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, limiting screen time use, and ensuring adequate sleep can also contribute to healthy vision.
Addressing Symptoms Early:
Eye rubbing, squinting, or complaints of headaches after near work can indicate vision problems and should prompt a visit to an eye doctor.
Eye rubbing, squinting, or complaints of headaches after near work can indicate vision problems and should prompt a visit to an eye doctor.
What are the Symptoms of Eye Problems in Children?
Paying careful attention to your child’s physical appearance, behavioral changes, and complaints can help to find and treat eye problems early.
Below are symptoms of possible eye problems, though they may vary:
- Blurred or double vision
- Eyes that are misaligned, that is, look crossed, turn out, or don't focus together.
- Redness or Swelling in either eye that doesn't go away in a few days
- Eyes that often seem overly sensitive to light
- Bulging eyes
- Drainage or excessive tearing from the eyes, or Watery eyes
- Squinting of the eyes
- Your child is rubbing their eyes a lot or complains of eye pain, itchiness, or discomfort.
- Seeing a white or grayish white color in the pupil of the eyes
- Your child is having trouble reading or holding reading materials close to the face
- Your child is tilting their head to see
- Your child has difficulty or avoids doing "close-up" tasks
- Eyes that flutter quickly from side to side or up and down, i.e, "Jiggly" or dancing eyes
- Eyes that may seem too large or too small
- Drooping eyelids
- Pus or crust in either eye
- Frequent headaches
- Having a short attention span
Note that the symptoms of eye problems may look like other health conditions. Always speak with your child's healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Signs That Your Child Might Need Glasses
Here are a few signs that might indicate that your child may be experiencing eye problems and needs glasses:
- Squinting of the eyes: Squinting of the eyes may be a sign that your child has a refractive error , which affects how good the eyes focus on an image. By doing this, your child may be able to temporarily improve the focus and clarity of an object.
- Tilting the head or covering one eye: Your child might cover one eye or tilt his or her head to adjust the angle of vision in an attempt to increase clarity. This could be an indication that the eyes are misaligned or that your child has amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, which is one of the most common eye problems in children.
- A child sitting too close to the television or holding hand-held devices too close to the eyes: A child sitting too close to the television, holding hand-held devices very close to the eyes, or lowering the head while reading are all possible signs of poor vision. Bringing an object closer makes an image bigger and clearer, as seen in people who have myopia or nearsightedness.
- Rubbing the eyes excessively: Excessive rubbing of the eyes may indicate that your child is experiencing eye fatigue or strain. This could be a sign of many types of eye problems and conditions, including allergic conjunctivitis .
- Complaining of frequent headaches or eye pain: If your child complains about eye pain or frequent headaches at the end of the day, he or she may be overexerting the eyes in an effort to increase focus of blurred vision.
- Having trouble concentrating on school work: Because children need to quickly and accurately adapt their visual focus from distant to near and on a number of different objects ranging from chalkboards and computers to textbooks and tablets, eye problems may manifest as a lack of focus on schoolwork.
Remember
Always reach out to your child's doctor if you have any concerns about their vision or any aspect of their health.
Tips you can do as a parent to protect your child's vision
Eating well: Eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which contain the necessary vitamins and minerals, can help protect your child's vision.
Limiting screen time use: Increased screen time can make uncorrected eye problems worse. Limit screen time use each day and have your child take frequent breaks to protect their eyes. Taking breaks in between also helps with other near-vision activities like reading, writing, or drawing.
Getting enough sleep: Our bodies and eyes heal when we sleep. Without getting enough sleep, it could be difficult for your child's eyes to recover from everyday use or irritants in the environment.
Spending time outdoors: Many children spend hours each day doing near-vision activities. Going outdoors allows them to look at distant objects, letting their eyes recover from strain and fatigue. Playing outdoors also helps them to be physically active and get the essential vitamin D.
Using protective eyewear and sunglasses: About 90% of eye injuries can be prevented with protective eyewear. If your child is involved in sports or other activities, ensure they wear protective eyewear to avoid injuries. You can also protect your child's eyes from the sun with sunglasses that have 100% ultraviolet (UV) protection and hats, as exposure to these rays over time can be harmful to the eyes.
Getting regular eye exams: Schedule eye exams regularly for your child, so an eye doctor can follow your child's vision through development. And, if anything changes, you can treat and manage your child's vision quickly. Ensure you are aware of any family history of eye problems and monitor for any signs of eye problems, such as squinting or eye rubbing. Always reach out to your child's doctor if you have any worrisome concerns.
Dr. Favvy
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Disclaimer
The information on this blog is just for educational purposes only.
It should not be used as a replacement for the medical care and advise of your child’s pediatrician.
Always consult your pharmacist before giving your child any drug.
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