UNDERSTANDING PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY

Children can be afflicted by many eye diseases. They may be born with or may develop cataracts, glaucoma, retinal and orbital tumours, or other problems. More commonly, children may need glasses to see more clearly or intervention for misaligned eyes (strabismus) or poor visual development in one eye (amblyopia). The management of eye problems in children requires special knowledge and skills. Even before a child can speak, paediatric ophthalmologists can tell what a child sees, if he or she needs eyeglasses or contact lenses, and if any problems exist with the eyes. Children are not miniature adults, and their eye problems require diagnostic and treatment methods that are usually different from those used in the older age group. Fortunately, most eye problems can be treated without surgery, however some children do need to undergo surgical correction of their eye problems.

The Importance of Childhood Eye Exams

Early diagnosis and treatment of childhood eye diseases and disorders significantly impact your child’s physical, emotional and social development. If you have an infant, your paediatrician should perform vision screening during the first year of life. Vision screening should be repeated periodically throughout childhood, particularly between the ages 3 to 5 years to detect amblyopia or its risk factors. Children with a family history of amblyopia, strabismus, congenital cataracts, congenital glaucoma, or retinoblastoma may benefit from a complete eye exam. In addition, those children who have certain medical conditions such as intellectual disabilities, developmental delay, Down syndrome, neurofibromatosis, prematurity or behavioural issues benefit greatly from a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist. If you or your paediatrician suspect a problem or if there is a family history of eye disease, schedule an appointment with a paediatric ophthalmologist.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EYE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN

For children, eyesight is important because good vision is often related to learning. As with adults, regular eye examinations are important to maintain proper eye health, since some serious eye disorders produce no early warning symptoms. 

Any of the following signs or symptoms may be indicative of a number of serious eye problems. If your child experiences any of the following, see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible: 

• Pain in or around the eye 
• One eye turns in toward the nose or wanders out toward the ear, either constantly or occasionally                    
• Eyes that do not appear to look in the same direction 
• Child tilts or turns head when looking intently 
• One eye closes occasionally, especially when the child is outside 
• Eyes shake or vibrate 
• Child covers one eye to look at things 
• Squints, or squeezes eyes nearly closed, to see 
• Cannot identify things across the room or farther away 
• Frequent rubbing of eye 
• Discharge from eyes (stuck together in the morning) 
• Droopy eyelids 
• A white pupil in one or both eyes 
• Eyes tearing or wet-looking, when not crying 
• Any swelling or lump in or around the eyes or eyelids 
• Any difference in size, shape or colour of any part of the eye (i.e. pupil) or eyelids 
• Redness of the eye 
• Functionally one-eyed