Asymmetry of the eyes, inflammation of the eyelids, red eyes, “running” eyes, photophobia (sensitivity to light), excessive tearing, eye rubbing, headaches, or an incorrect position when watching TV can be many signs that a child has poor vision. sees, is not safe, and her performance in school is deteriorating. With timely treatment, many vision problems in children are treatable. What are the recommendations of ophthalmologists.

Newborns are born with blurred vision. The visual system develops over time and is fully formed around the age of 10. However, it is not necessary to wait a decade to find out that the child does not see well and needs vision correction. For many eye diseases, it may be too late.

In Romania, every child must undergo a first ophthalmological examination in the maternity ward by a neonatologist. With the help of a special flashlight, the doctor checks the appearance and movement of the eyes to detect the presence of cataracts. About 2 in 10,000 babies are born with cataracts in one or both eyes and need treatment. However, during this examination, the doctor cannot determine how well the child can see. Ophthalmological screening is performed at birth, repeated after 6 months and then after a year.

Prof. Cristina Vladuciu, primary ophthalmologist, honorary president of the Romanian Society of Strabology and Ophthalmology, recommends that premature babies born before 31 weeks and weighing less than 1500 grams should be examined in the maternity ward by an ophthalmologist who specializes in the detection of retinopathy of prematurity. : “Retinopathy of prematurity can lead to vision loss if not detected early. When retinopathy is detected, a laser is used or intraocular injections are made. Thanks to this screening of retinopathy of prematurity, its complications are very rare, but not excluded. In children who have been successfully treated for retinopathy, myopia later develops in a fairly significant percentage.”

When should children be taken to an ophthalmologist for the first time?

“It depends on what the parents and the family doctor notice. If the child has a family history of eye diseases (refractive defects, strabismus, tumors-retinoblastoma, congenital cataract), then he will be presented to an ophthalmologist in the first 3 months of life,” recommends Prof. Kristina Vladutyu.

If the child has “alarm signals” – redness, lacrimation, purulent secretions, a white or yellowish reflex at the level of the pupil, he must be urgently taken to an ophthalmologist, who will make a diagnosis and give a therapeutic indication. “If he suspects a more delicate situation, he will refer the child to an ophthalmologist, that is, an ophthalmologist who specializes in eye diseases in children,” explains Prof. Cristina Văduțiu, the correct route.

If the baby has no ophthalmological signs or symptoms, it is still recommended to consult an ophthalmologist (consultation screening) before the age of 3, the specialist also recommends.

What are the most common diseases of babies and preschoolers

According to Prof. Christina Vladuciu, most often children can have refractive errors such as hypermetropia, myopia, astigmatism: “Up to 3 years of age, children can have physiological hypermetropia, which spontaneously passes by this age. Myopia, as a rule, is simple – also called myopia in schoolchildren – and begins at the age of 7-8. Children with significant refractive errors approach the TV or squint when they want to see better. Instead, there are refractive errors that do not manifest themselves, so a screening consultation is indicated up to 3 years old,” says the doctor.

Strabismus, that is, the deviation of the eyes towards the nose or to the side, is another vision problem that parents usually notice, the university says, but there are also small deviations that can go unnoticed: “Congenital obstruction of the tear duct appears in the first week after birth and is manifested by pathological secretions (tears, pus). The family doctor can prescribe a massage of the inner corner of the eyelids and instillation of antibiotics. If the symptoms do not disappear, the child should be taken to an ophthalmologist, who will order an examination of the tear ducts.”

What solutions are there to correct strabismus?

In most cases, the treatment of strabismus begins with the prescription of glasses after determining the diopters: “The purpose of glasses is to provide good visual acuity, relax the eyes and reduce the deviation of strabismus. When amblyopia is detected – lazy eye – with lower vision, occlusion of the non-displaced eye (with better acuity) is indicated. In addition, you can perform exercises to stimulate vision. It can be various drawings or exercises on the computer. It is important that these exercises do not exclude occlusion. The speed and duration of occlusion is determined by the doctor in accordance with the evolution of vision,” the specialist adds. As for surgical intervention, it is indicated if the deviation of the eye exceeds 5 degrees, despite wearing glasses and physical exercises. Sometimes after surgery, occlusion and exercises are also necessary,” the doctor draws attention.

Parents are increasingly interested in the quality of their children’s vision and have learned to take measures in time. “Fortunately, parents are coming to the ophthalmologist earlier and earlier to check if their children can see, and that’s encouraging. And they come with children up to a year old, which is very good. Because the most common problem we face is a few diopters above the physiological limit. That is, some diopters with which the child cannot see well and vision does not develop normally,” explains Dr. Raluca Nicescu, pediatric ophthalmologist.

Pediatric ophthalmologists note that premature babies, low birth weight babies, low APGAR scores, newborn neurological disorders, multiple pregnancies or families with congenital diseases are prone to ophthalmic diseases, requiring specialist consultation at the age of 10. one month. At the same time, if the family has permanent glasses – with or without strabismus – it is necessary to examine the child between the ages of 9 months and 1 year for amblyopia.

Guide to medical visits

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus recommend the following schedule of visits to the ophthalmologist:

From 0 to 12 months with in-office screening testing. The doctor will check the eyes and eyelids, pupil reaction and eye movement. Premature babies, children with signs of eye diseases, as well as those with a family history of eye diseases in childhood should be referred to an ophthalmologist.

Between the ages of 1 year and 3 years, a screening should be done to detect problems with focusing, which may indicate that the child has poor vision in one or both eyes. Such screening also detects risk factors for amblyopia, or lazy eye, which is reduced vision in one or both eyes with abnormal underdevelopment of the visual system in the brain.

At the age of 3 to 5 years, the vision and location of the eyes should be checked. Signs of strabismus, amblyopia, refractive errors, or other eye focusing problems may be detected. In these cases, it is necessary to start treatment.

At the age of 5 years and older, it is necessary to check the visual acuity and position of the eyes in children. The examination must be repeated every year or every two years after 5 years.

According to the Mayo Clinic, an eye test is more effective and cost-effective than a comprehensive eye exam for each individual child. Statistics show that 2 to 4% of children have eye problems that require treatment. In addition, a comprehensive ophthalmological examination may miss some eye problems, so it is advisable to conduct several examinations over a period of time.

Ophthalmology visits can last anywhere from one to two hours, especially if dilating drops are needed, so if you’re the parent of a young child, it’s a good idea to be prepared with diapers and snacks. For older children, it is useful to have the child’s previous glasses, a medical card, a list of questions for the doctor.

According to Dr. Raluca Nicescu, parents interested in the quality of their children’s vision should follow three tips: “The first rule is to treat children normally and be attentive to them. The second tip is to just bring them in for a routine check-up, even if they are small. And thirdly, also be careful in their family, if they have relatives with large diopters, if there are grandparents in the family with more serious eye problems or serious ophthalmic diseases, then it is good to be more careful with your children and bring them to examination to an ophthalmologist”.

Tips on how to maintain eye health

Dr. Courtney Kraus, an ophthalmologist at the famous American John Hopkins Hospital, gave several recommendations for parents that will help maintain the health of children’s eyes.

Increase your child’s visual interaction with high-contrast colors, toys and decor. Give toddlers time to focus on their surroundings in their new environment. Trick games and games that stimulate hand-eye coordination are recommended.

Eat a balanced diet that contains eye-healthy nutrients such as zinc, lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C and E. Fruits with vitamins C and E, such as oranges, strawberries and mangoes, help repair tissue and prevent infections. Omega-3 acids contained in fish prevent dry eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts. Protein from eggs and nuts can add to a balanced diet. It is also important to know that a healthy diet helps prevent obesity and hypertension, diseases that also affect the eyes.

Protect your child’s eyes with appropriate glasses and limit the use of digital screens. Teach your child the 20-20-20 rule, which means looking up from your computer or phone every 20 minutes and looking at an object 20 meters away for at least 20 seconds. Although research has yet to show that blue light from digital devices is harmful to the eyes, sitting with your eyes glued to these screens can cause fatigue, dryness, eye irritation, blurred vision, and impaired ability to focus.

And one last tip: pay attention to warning signs: lack of interest in distant objects, crossed eyes, head tilt, holding objects very close to the nose, photophobia, poor hand-eye coordination, eye rubbing,

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