Following are the common eye problems in children:
- Refractive errors
- The commonest cause of preventable blindness in children
- A most important cause for poor performance in schools and learning disability
- Can be easily and successfully treated if diagnosed early in life
- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
- This occurs when one or both eyes send a blurred image to the brain
- Causes: uncorrected refractive errors, squint, and cataract in children
- Treatment involves
- Spectacles
- Patching
- Exercises on synaptophore
- Software-based exercises
- Squint in Children
- It is a misalignment of the eyes
- One eye is the fixating eye and the other may be deviated up, down, in or out
- A baby with a constantly fixed squint, or with an intermittent squint that is worsening from 2 months, should have an assessment by a Paediatric Ophthalmologist
- Treatment involves spectacles, exercises, and surgery in some cases
- Cataract in Children
- Though cataract affect elderly people, it can sometimes affect kids too
- You would notice a white reflex in a child’s eye
- Refractive correction and Lazy eye (Amblyopia) therapy are very important after cataract surgery
- Needs a very committed long term follow-up
- Often children have other systemic problems too and need a Paediatrician’s care
- Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
- Blocked tear ducts are common in infants; as many as one third may be born with this condition
- Children present with excess tearing, purulent discharge and infection
- Fortunately, more than 90% of all cases clear up by the time children are 1 year old with proper NLD massage
- If left untreated, then the tear duct may have to be opened surgically either by probing or a lacrimal sac surgery
- Binocular Vision Problems
- Many school-going children and people working in IT companies have problems of eye fatigue, double vision, and problems in focusing
- This is due to excessive use of the visual display terminals
- Usually, this is also associated with dry eyes
- Treatment includes exercises for eye muscle and management of dry eyes
Common symptoms in children with eye problems:
- Keeping the books too close to the eye
- Going close to the TV
- Difficulty in reading from blackboard
- Making lots of spelling mistakes while copying the notes
- Squeezing the eyes or excessive blinking to see clearly
- Eye strain while reading
- Intolerance to sunlight
- Constant irritation or watering of the eyes
- Constantly rubbing the eyes
- Recurrent styes and eye infections
- Frequent headaches
- Difficulty in night vision
Common signs which indicate about an eye problem:
- Noticing a white reflex in the eye
- Asymmetry in the size of both the eyes
- Deviation of the eyes
- Frequent redness and watering
- Discharge from the eyes
- Yellowish discolouration of the eyes
What to do if a child suffers an eye injury?
- Blunt trauma like getting hit by a ball or fist
- Penetrating injury with a sharp object like pen, pencil, and scissors
- Chemical injury: if any household cleaner, a chemical in the lab or lime enters the eye
- Any foreign body entering the eyes
What to do?
- Do not rub the eyes
- Do not try to take out any foreign body
- In case of chemical injury, wash the eye thoroughly with water
- Cover the eye with a protective eye shield
- Consult the eye specialist immediately
Some Do’s and Don’ts for eye care:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Eat all coloured and green leafy vegetables | Do not rub your eyes |
| Maintain proper posture while reading | Do not share your handkerchiefs and towels |
| Good illumination while reading | Do not indulge in fights with your friends and stay away from sharp objects |
| Restrict your screen time | Do not watch too much of TV or play games on the Ipads/mobiles |
| Get adequate sleep of 8 hours | Do not look at the sun directly |
| Get regular eye check-ups done | |
Dr. Hemalatha Vidyashankar, Consultant – Paediatrics & Ophthalmology, SRCC Children’s Hospital, Mumbai