Either at birth or in early childhood, some children have eye diseases. Children, and babies in particular, cannot always voice discomfort or problems with their eyes and overall health. Parents must keep a diligent watch for signs of change. If parents believe a child may have an eye condition, they should discuss their concerns with a pediatrician. Knowing some of the eye diseases that affect children and the accompanying symptoms may help parents notice early changes.
Congenital Cataracts
Inside the eye sits a natural lens that helps the light focus properly on the back of the eye, aiding in clear visual images. Cataracts occur when this natural lens turns cloudy and hard, causing vision to blur and images to have a yellow tint. Most everyone will have some amount of cataract since this process stems from natural aging. However, some children have cataracts at birth or they develop them early in childhood. Doctors refer to this as congenital cataracts.
Often, parents will not notice symptoms other than vision impairment. Though, if a child has a significant cataract, the parents may notice a foggy or cloudy appearance when looking directly in the eye. Many children have cataracts without a known cause, but some congenital cataracts result from an underlying condition, such as Down syndrome, states MedlinePlus. An eye surgeon will not usually remove a congenital cataract unless a child's vision is significantly impaired.
Glaucoma
Childhood glaucoma typically stems from poor eye development before birth. Glaucoma causes the pressure to increase inside the eye, and the pressure gradually damages the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, symptoms usually include a white or foggy cornea, which is the front covering of the eye; light sensitivity; and large eyes.
In many instances, surgery to repair or create the drainage system inside the eye will help resolve the problem. However, some children require surgery and eyedrops to lower the pressure inside the eye.
Retinoblastoma
The lining of the back of the eye, called the retina, consists of light-sensitive tissue. Retinoblastoma is a cancer that develops in the retina, usually before age 5. According to the Genetics Home Reference, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, signs of the cancer include whiteness of the pupil area; eye misalignment, such as crossed eyes; pain; and decreased vision. If detected early, surgery, chemotherapy or other treatments may treat the cancer with good results. Late detection may allow the cancer to spread to other areas of the body, causing a life-threatening situation.
