Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : February 26, 2016 4:54 PM IST
Vision problems in kids is becoming quite common. While some eye problems can be solved by wearing glasses, some need more attention and medical care. The sooner you pick up the signs, the better. The problem with children is that they cannot tell you right away that they have a vision problem. So here, Dr Virender Sachdeva, Consultant, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus and Neuro-ophthalmology, Nimmagadda Prasad Children s Eye Care Centre and LV Prasad Eye Institute talks about the conditions that your child can suffer from silently and how you can pick the cues.
1. Underlying refractive error: This means your child has a problem with clear vision. The symptoms that she might experience are blurring of vision, watching objects and television from a very close distance, etc. Sometimes they might also ignore objects such as toys beyond a particular distance and in other cases, the child may try to make the eyeballs small while reading or focussing on things. It is up to the parents to pick up these signs early. Remember, in young children, headaches and eye strain after moderate reading also can signify the need for glasses. Here are 10 ways to help your child protect her eyes.
2. Underlying squint: Headache and eye strain are not just symptoms that indicate refractive errors. If this happens often after reading or watching television, it could also be indicative of an underlying squint or imbalance of muscles of the eyes. A detailed eye examination by a specialist can easily detect these conditions. Proper use of glasses, special exercises for muscle weakness and sometimes surgical treatment for squint may help relieve the problems. Here is all that you need to know on how squint is treated in children.
3. Allergic conjunctivitis: Rubbing eyes, redness, watering and discharge signify allergic eye disease, commonly referred to allergic conjunctivitis. Although it may be seasonal or present all throughout the year in some of these children, it can be easily suspected if there is a history of frequent rubbing of the eyes along with redness and watering from the eyes. Usually there is a mild swelling of the lids, redness of the eyes and a small discharge from the eyes. Sometimes there may be presence of a foamy swelling around the cornea (central black portion of the eyes). The condition usually responds well to medical treatment, although sometimes long term treatment may be needed. Here is one home remedy for conjunctivitis that really works.
4. Ocular allergies: Swollen eyelids, watering, discharge, sticking of the eyelids and photophobia (unable to focus on light) signify the presence of infections in the eye and eyelids too. An important point to remember is that while in ocular allergies the discharge tends to be mild; it tends to be copious if the infection spreads rapidly. Sometimes infections of the eye may also be associated with development of fever.
5. Corneal scar or cataract: Presence of a whitish opacity on the cornea (the central transparent portion of the eye) may suggest a possible corneal scar that may result from an infection, trauma, or could be due to other hereditary eye conditions. Similarly presence of a whitish opacity in the eye could signify the presence of a cataract. These conditions may be associated with a blurred vision for distant objects in infants and older children; it may even lead to lack of eye contact and response to parents. In an advanced condition the whitish opacity can be easily recognised by the parents. In some children, if treatment is delayed it may lead to squint and nystagmus (shaking of the eyeballs). A whitish opacity in one or both eyes in an infant or small child may also be due to retinal developmental problems or retinoblastoma (a life threatening cancer of the eyes). In such cases, usually the parents may complain of a cat s eye reflex i.e. a bright whitish shadow seen in eye especially in dark light. Thus presence of a white reflex in the eye needs an urgent detailed eye evaluation. Here are 10 dos and don ts to follow after a cataract surgery.
6. Congenital glaucoma: Watering, photophobia (inability to open eyes in the bright light) associated with the haziness of the central portion of the eyes, or an associated bluish discolouration of the eyeballs may suggest the development of a congenital glaucoma. If treated early in infancy it can prevent permanent visual loss due to damage to the nerve of the eyeball.
7. Albinism: An exceptionally fair skin and hair along with shaking of the eyeballs may suggest albinism, a condition characterised by the absence of the pigment responsible for colour of skin, hair and eyes. Such children also usually have a photophobia and difficulty in vision.
8. Squint: Children with squint (deviation of the eyeballs), shaking of the eyeballs or tendency to keep the head to one side may have a problem with the eye movements. Such conditions may signify an underlying eye or brain problem. Squint may also be a late presentation of conditions like cataract, refractive error, lazy eye, etc.
9. Photophobia: Inability to open the eyes towards bright light can be a symptom of the underlying glaucoma, infections of the eye, albinism and other retinal conditions. An early examination may help diagnose these conditions early and maximise the visual potential of the child.
10. Asymmetrical eyes: This may signify a difference in the size of the eyeballs or a difference in the eyelid position. This falling of the upper eyelid (ptosis) may be by birth or may occur following an eye injury. It can usually be corrected by a small surgical procedure, however, if left untreated can lead to development of a special refractive error or lazy eye.
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