Healthy vision is essential for every child's development. Poor vision or eye problems can affect a child's learning ability and personality, as well as their schoolwork. The next time you take your child for a checkup, be sure to include an eye exam.
Detection of eye and vision problems in children
Vision problems can be detected through the following warning signs:
- Rubbing your eyes.
- Redness of the eyes.
- Tearing and swelling.
- Drooping eyelids.
- Pus or scabs on the eyelids.
- White, yellow, or gray-white material in the pupil.
- Sensitivity to light.
Infrequent warnings
Not all vision problems begin with blurred vision, an inability to see things clearly, or any of the symptoms described above. Some symptoms may go unnoticed, such as:
- Wandering eye or crossed eye: Affects 3-5% of children. Symptoms include one eye that deviates or appears crossed in relation to the other eye.
- Unequal focus: This occurs when one eye is more farsighted than the other. It affects 2-3% of children. Detecting this problem can be difficult, as younger children may not realize their vision is impaired. These problems typically occur in children between the ages of 18 months and 4 years.
Eye exam and treatment for children
Our ophthalmologists recommend that the first comprehensive vision exam be performed at age 3. Treatment for most childhood eye problems involves eye drops, eye patches, or special glasses.
What are the common eye problems in children?
- Amblyopia: also known as "lazy eye," amblyopia is poor vision in one eye that appears normal. Crossed eyes and a difference in refractive error between the two eyes cause amblyopia. Ideally, it should be treated before the age of 8, after which it can cause irreversible vision loss in the affected eye.
- Strabismus: This is caused by a misalignment of the eyes, meaning they turn inward, outward, upward, or downward. Chronic misalignment can also lead to amblyopia (lazy eye). If detected early, vision can be restored by patching the correctly aligned eye, forcing the misaligned eye to work. It can be corrected surgically or with specially designed glasses.
- Refractive errors: When the shape of the eye does not refract light correctly, images will appear blurry. Refractive errors can also cause amblyopia (lazy eye). The most common refractive errors include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. All refractive errors can be corrected with glasses in childhood.
Depending on the severity of the condition, eye treatments, such as patching, can last a couple of weeks, months, or about a year. Wearing glasses may be more prolonged.
Schedule an appointment with one of our specialists to have your child's eyes examined and ensure they have healthy eyes. Don't ignore warning signs or delay treatment. Timely care is crucial in the early years of life. Book your appointment today by calling us at 822 027 777. We'd be delighted to see you at our Ophthalmology Clinic in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
