Eye health is a vital aspect of a person’s overall well-being, especially for children. It is essential to prioritize it from an early age. Unfortunately, eye diseases in children are spreading fast, making it crucial for both parents and caregivers to be aware of the risks and symptoms of common eye diseases in children.
Studies have shown that on average one out of every four children has a vision problem. Such issues when left untreated can lead to more severe complications later in life.
At EDO, we understand the importance of authentic information required in raising awareness among the public to help you make an informed decision about your child’s eye health.
We will guide you through the diagnosis, treatment, and causes of 4 common eye diseases in children, ensuring you can take care of your child’s health and make them ready for a lifelong journey.
4 Common Eye Diseases in Children:
- Myopia:
Myopia:
Myopia is also known as nearsightedness as in this condition close objects appear clear, but distant objects appear blurry. The shape of the cornea becomes too curved. This causes the light to focus in front of the retina instead of falling directly on it.
Causes
Causes of myopia may include generic factors, irregular cornea, long eye or oval eye ball apart from these prolonged reading, screen time, poor lighting, and limited outdoors can also affect the sight of a child.
Symptoms:
- Blur vision at a distance.
- Prolonged eye strain or fatigue
- Squinting or rubbing eyes while trying to see objects
Diagnosis: Eye exam with refraction test
Treatment:
- Glasses or contact lenses focus light on the retina
- Orthokeratology (OK) or corneal reshaping
- Refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK) for permanent correction if necessary.
2. Hypermetropia:
Opposite to mypoia, hypermetropia is long-sightedness; a common eye disease in children in which distant objects are seen clearly, but close objects appear blurry. It happens due to the faulty shape of cornea or lens of the eye, which causes the light rays to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it.
Symptoms:
- Difficulty in seeing near objects.
- Eye strain / fatigue
- Headache or eye discomfort while trying to focus.
- Trying to see objects from a certain distance.
- Watering from eyes.
Treatment options:
- Corrective lenses or glasses as prescribed by ophthalmologist
- Intraocular lens implantation if needed
- Surgery like Laser-Assisted In situ Keratomileusis or Photo-Refractive Keratectomy.
3. Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
Also known as crossed eyes, this disease is pointing of the two eyes in different directions affecting vision and eye movement. In this condition muscles that control eye movement don’t work together properly this leads to misalignment of eyes.
Causes and Risk Factors:
Causes of strabismus may be premature birth or low birth weight, brain or nerve disorders, injury, or trauma to the eye or brain. Also, this disease may be genetically running in the family.
Symptoms:
- Eyes that align or point in different directions.
- Double vision or blurred vision
- Eye strain or fatigue
Diagnosis: Comprehensive eye exam with cover test or Hirschberg test
Treatment:
- Glasses or lenses to realign vision
- Eye exercises or orthoptics to strengthen eye muscles
- Surgery to realign eye muscles and improve eye movement if required.
4. Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Amblyopia (also called lazy eye) is a type of poor vision that usually happens in just 1 eye but less commonly in both eyes(anisometric amblyopia) . It develops when there’s a breakdown in how the brain and the eye work together, and the brain can’t recognize the sight from 1 eye. Over time, the brain relies more and more on the other, stronger eye — while vision in the weaker eye gets worse.
It’s called “lazy eye” because the stronger eye works better. But people with amblyopia are not lazy, and they can’t control the way their eyes work.
Amblyopia starts in childhood, and it’s the most common cause of vision loss in kids. Up to 4 out of 100 children have it. The good news is that early treatment works well and usually prevents long-term vision problems.
Causes and Risk Factors: Strabismus (crossed eyes), Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness), Blockage of light entering the eye (e.g., cataract), and Premature birth or low birth weight.
Symptoms:
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty playing sports
- Frequently closing one eye
- Eye rubbing
- Head tilting for clearer vision
- Squinting eyes
- Eye strain or fatigue
- Difficulty in focus and attention
Treatment:
Patching the stronger eye to strengthen the weaker eye. Surgery to align the eye or remove the blockage. If you notice any of the above-mentioned signs, contact an eye specialist who is experienced in BVD.
Early Diagnosis and Treatment
Just like any other disease early detection and treatment are also crucial in managing eye diseases in children. If ignored, these seemingly small conditions can lead to long-term vision problems, even permanent vision loss. Early intervention can prevent complications and even eradicate the problem. This is why at EDO, we aim to provide guidance and facilities including Pentacam tests to help you ensure your child’s eye health.
What does the Pentacam assess?
The test is a diagnostic tool used for the analysis of the cornea—a clear dome-shaped surface at the front of the eye. This non-invasive procedure uses a rotating Scheimpflug camera to capture images of the cornea from different angles. It is a completely painless process. These images are then used to create a 4D model of the cornea. This model is useful in the diagnosis of corneal conditions such as keratoconus and ectasia.
The Pentacam test facility is available at EDO Eye Hospital, where it is used to help diagnose and treat a range of eye conditions. It is commonly used in preparing for refractive eye surgery such as LASIK, and EpiLASIK. Pentacam test is also useful in the diagnosis of certain types of problems, in evaluating the progression of diseases, and in fitting some types of contact lenses.
Best eye treatment in Wah Cantt & Islamabad:
Eye health is crucial for the overall well-being of your children. As a parent, it is both your utmost duty and desire to prioritize your child’s eye health. If you notice any signs of eye diseases in your child including corneal or ectasia, seek professional advice from trusted eye care professionals. Contact the best eye treatment in Islamabad to schedule regular eye exams without hesitation. We address all your concerns and symptoms promptly without keeping anything in the shade. Together, we make sure that children can enjoy a lifetime of clear vision and optimal eye health, free of eye diseases and issues.
Children are our future and their eyes are the windows to the world. Unfortunately, eye diseases in children like Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD), keratoconus, and refraction errors along with other conditions, are significantly impacting the quality of life of young children. Understanding and recognizing the signs and symptoms of these conditions allows us to seek timely treatment. Be it the use of glasses, vision therapy, or the Pentacam test EDO Hospital aims to provide you with the best option for improvement and healing. Allow us to prioritize your eye health and protection above all, so our children can continue to see the world with clarity and joy.