Vision problems in babies can prove difficult to assess, since babies can't verbalize a loss or change in vision. Some eye conditions that affect babies are visually obvious. Other conditions are known risks of certain medical procedures, such as oxygen administration, so physicians monitor babies to ensure any damage receives prompt treatment. Still other eye problems in babies develop after trauma or as part of a disease process.
Congenital Abnormalities
Some eye problems are inherited or congenital, meaning that they occur before birth. Strabismus, a common misalignment of the eyes, may be obvious or more subtle. The danger of strabismus, besides the cosmetic defect, is that a child may ignore signals from one eye and stop using it, because trying to look with misaligned eyes creates double or blurred vision, a condition called amblyopia, or lazy eye. Strabismus affects 1 to 2 people in 100. Physicians don't usually diagnose strabismus until after a baby has reached 4 months of age, because most children younger than 4 months have some degree of strabismus, the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary says.
Other genetic abnormalities include cataracts, glaucoma, malformations of the eye or eyelids, albinism and craniofacial abnormalities that affect the eye, says Patent UK.
Prematurity
Premature infants, especially those with low birth weight and those who receive supplemental oxygen after birth may develop retinopathy of prematurity, also known as ROP. ROP, the most common cause of blindness in infants born in developed countries, according to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, occurs when the blood vessels in the retina grow wildly, causing scar tissue formation in the retina and retinal detachment. Longer exposure to supplemental oxygen after birth increases the risk of ROP. Eighty percent of infants who develop ROP weighed less than 1 kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, at birth, states Patient UK.
Acquired Conditions
Many eye problems result from diseases or problems that occur after birth. Retinoblastoma, a cancer of the retina, affects 1 in 15,000 children and may occur in infancy, according to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Blocked tear ducts may require surgery. Infections such as gonorrhea or chlamydia acquired at the time of delivery can cause vision loss if not promptly treated with antibiotics.
Shaken Baby Syndrome causes hemorrhage or bleeding in the retina and may be the only sign of child abuse, Patient UK states. Corneal abrasion and other trauma to the eye can lead to pain and, in severe cases, vision loss.
