As your child grows up, they also become susceptible to age-related eye issues. So, it is vital to ensure your child’s eye health is optimal. Eye issues in your young one can impact their ability to perform everyday tasks. These include playing, reading, and writing. Here is a look at some common eye issues in children and how to deal with them.
Refractive Errors
Farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism are common eye issues in kids. These refractive error issues in their eyes are also common among adults. The cause of the conditions has to do with aberrations on the eye's surface.
These irregularities hinder light from focusing properly on the retina. Refractive errors are treatable when diagnosed in time. Common treatments include prescription glasses or lenses by your optometrist.
Lazy Eye
This condition is also scientifically known as amblyopia. It occurs when the brain is unable to process data from one eye. In time, it ignores the inputs altogether. As a result, the eye weakens due to obstruction in vision development, leading to long-term vision issues.
The symptoms of the condition include eye wandering and squinting. You may also notice some head tilting and poor depth perception. Treatment includes the use of eye drops, glasses, or eye patches. In some cases, your eye doctor might recommend surgery.
Strabismus
It is a condition where your child’s eyes are not well-aligned with each other while they are focusing on an object. Often, their eyes will point in different directions. While some develop the condition during childhood, others are born with it. Left untreated, strabismus results in amblyopia. It is treatable at an early age using eye exercises, glasses, and patches.
Chalazion
This is the inflammation of your little one’s upper or lower eyelids. The leading cause is the swelling or blockage of an oil gland in the eye. Although it is generally painless, it can get painful. It happens when the inflammation gets infected and spreads to the entire eyelid. It further affects vision if it grows bigger, covering the pupil.
Minor chalazia often disappear in a few months. However, infected chalazia require treatment. Your pediatric eye doctor may use surgical drainage or a warm compress. Other treatments include the removal of chalazia or the use of eye drops.
Epiphora
A young one suffering from epiphora experiences excess tearing or constant watery eyes. It is a result of various factors, such as:
Infection.
Blockage of the tear ducts.
Allergies.
Ocular surface diseases.
The condition often goes away in a few months. But your eye doctor can use eye drops or massage techniques to treat epiphora if it persists. In some cases, doctors may perform minor surgery.
Conclusion
Untreated eye issues in kids can develop into long-lasting and severe vision problems. Regular eye exams and routine screenings can help catch eye problems in children at their early stages. For this, you need the expertise of a well-trained pediatric eye doctor.
For more on common eye problems in children, visit Grin Eye Care at our offices in Leawood and Olathe, Kansas, or Kansas City, Missouri. You can also call (913) 829-5511 to book an appointment today.
