Kid’s common eye problems
Children are more prone to eye infections and problems than adults. Thus they must be undertaken into regular eye checkup so as to prevent long term eye complication. Itching, redness and other eye problems are common among children because of their casual attitude and playing in dirt. Parents must be cautious and vigil for any kind of eye problem in children and must contact pediatrics to avoid further complications.
Here are listed some of the common eye problems affecting children which must be medically treated in order to prevent any other major eye complication.
Lazy eye (Amblyopia)
Lazy eye is common eye problem found in 2-3% of children and sometimes adults. This affects normally one eye only and prevents clear image by interfering with the development of vision. Usually amblyopia affects one eye’s central vision which fails to develop properly and if such condition is untreated may lead to functional blindness.
An amblyopic eye though able to see but with persistent blurred vision and the brain stress on stronger eye for proper vision. This complication develops in young kids, before age 6 and symptoms are prominent which include:
- eyestrain
- poor visibility
- squinting
- headache
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a problem which results in irregular corneal shape making the vision blurred. Children suffering from astigmatism need glasses if the problem is severe and large.
Swollen eyelids (Blepharitis)
Blepharitis is common eyelid inflammation associated with bacterial eye infection and usually shows symptoms of dry eyes. Blepharitis has two forms as: Anterior blepharitis that affects the outer front of eyelids due to some bacterial infection. Posterior blepharitis affects inner eyelid and associated with dysfunction of meibomian glands (glands which produces oil to lubricate eye).
The degree of severity is found in both type of bacterial infection and a permanent relief is difficult in both. The various symptoms found during this complication are burning, flaking, tearing, irritation and redness in eyelid.
Pink eye (Conjunctivitis)
Conjunctivitis is commonly found in children and adults due to the viral or bacterial infection which causes redness in the front white part of eye. It is often termed as ‘pink eye’ and its common symptoms found are itching, inflammation, stinging, pain, irritation and light sensitivity.
Pink eye is contagious infection caused mainly in adults but easily caught in children through various epidemics that spread rapidly in classrooms. Pink eye also occurs due to the allergens diffused in the atmosphere while coughing and sneezing also lead to pink eye. It is important not to share anything such as towel, clothes, and keeping distance would probably help in ceasing pink eye.
Drooping eyelid (Ptosis)
Ptosis leads to drooping eyelids of one or both the eyes which causes the blurred vision and stress on eyes. Sometimes the lid droops over the entire pupil which can be easily noticeable. This problem generally occurs with the ageing and if it is caused in young age the reason being congenital or due to some injury in eye or develop due to ageing.
People with Ptosis have difficulty in seeing properly and the severity relies on the people to people and the main factor leading to it is age. This can be treated with small surgery that would be involving tightening of levator muscles which lifts eyelids and giving improved vision.
Myopia (nearsightedness)
Children with myopia can able to see the objects closer to them while the objects far away are unclear. Nearsightedness is sometimes congenital in infants due to malnutrition but rarely found and common in children and adults due to the mental stress. The degree of severity increases with the age as the eyeglasses would solve the problem but unable to cure it.
Hyperopia (farsightedness)
Farsightedness commonly seen in children and infants, it results in the ability to see the far objects clearly better than those at closer range. Though it doesn’t interferes with vision, but the problem is excessive it can be treated with using eyeglasses.
