While glasses and vision loss are often associated with older age, many children struggle with eye problems as well. Oftentimes, children are first diagnosed with an eye problem after a routine school vision screening. A trip to the ophthalmologist or optometrist can reveal eye defects in children.
Types of Common Eye Defects in Children
Eye defects that are common in children include myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, astigmatism, amblyopia and strabismus. Myopia, which is more commonly referred to as nearsightedness, refers to difficulty seeing things at a distance. Children with myopia are able to see objects close to them well, but struggle to see objects that are far away. Hyperopia, also called farsightedness, refers to difficulty with close vision. People who are hyperopic have a difficult time focusing on objects that are near them.
In astigmatism, the eye can't focus light clearly onto the back of the eye or the retina and objects appear blurry at all distances. Many people with astigmatism are also hyperopic or myopic. According to BBC Health, two-thirds of people with myopia also have a significant astigmatism.
In amblyopia, one eye is weaker than the other eye. Since it is easier to focus the dominant eye, vision loss occurs in the weaker eye. In strabismus, there is a misalignment between the eyes. Instead of aligning correctly and working together, the eyes focus in opposite directions or one of the eyes wanders.
Causes
According to the Cleveland Clinic, myopia is often the result of an eyeball that is slightly longer than usual. Light rays focus in front of the retina, rather than directly on the retina and as a result, objects in the distance are blurry.
Hyperopia is caused by a refractive error in which the shape of the eye doesn't bend light correctly, similar to myopia. The condition is usually genetic. In astigmatism, the cornea is irregularly shaped such that it is longer in one direction than the other. The eye can't focus light clearly onto the back of the eye or the retina and this is why objects appear blurry at all distances.
Amblyopia develops when one eye is capable of focusing better than the other eye. As a result, the brain begins to ignore the weaker eye, progressively suppressing the ability of the weaker eye to process images. According to Prevent Blindness America, when amblyopia is left untreated, total vision loss may eventually occur in the weaker eye.
For normal vision, the eyes must focus together to produce a unified image. In strabismus, the eyes don't work together, such that each eye produces a separate image. Often, the child will develop amblyopia as the brain attempts to shut out the image received from one eye in favor of the other eye.
Symptoms
A symptom common to many eye defects in children is eye strain. Eye strain can cause headaches and fatigue due to the stress on the eyes. Children with non-optimal vision may have a difficult time seeing the board at school. In addition, they may have difficulty reading.
A child who is myopic will struggle to see objects in the distance, while a child who is hyperopic will struggle to see things up close. A child with strabismus will have the tell-tale symptom of crossed or wandering eyes. According to FamilyDoctor.org, while newborn babies frequently cross their eyes or have a wandering eye, these symptoms suggest strabismus only when they are observed after 3-months of age.
Diagnosis
Vision problems in children are often initially identified during a routine school vision screening or during a basic eye exam at the pediatrician's office. A pediatric ophthalmologist can perform a complete eye exam to give a full diagnosis and assess the extent of the eye disorder. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the doctor will conduct a visual acuity test, as well as check eye movement ability, proper eye alignment and light reflex.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the condition. For refractive conditions such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, glasses are usually prescribed. In addition, refractive surgery is sometimes performed. Surgery is also sometimes performed on children with strabismus to correct the misalignment of the eyes.
Because untreated amblyopia may result in total vision loss, early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to preserving vision in the weaker eye. Eye patching is often used to cover the stronger eye, forcing the weaker or "lazy" eye to work harder, thereby strengthening it and furthering its development.
