The Children's Vision Information Network says that newborn babies already have the eye structures for vision, and must learn to use them. As they grow, children develop visual skills such as focus and hand-eye coordination. As their visual skills advance, some children may develop visual problems that can interfere with their performance at school. An eye specialist should regularly examine your children's eyes to detect visual problems. Early detection and proper treatment can minimize possible negative effects of visual problems in children.
Amblyopia
In amblyopia, or lazy eye, the brain stops recognizing input from one of the eyes even though the eye appears normal. Normally, young children naturally develop binocular vision. However, some children continue to use only one eye, and their brains begin to refuse input from the other eye. This visual problem in children can become irreversible if you do not treat it. Usually you can address it during the preschool years. Corrective surgery can realign the lazy eye's muscles so that the eye appears straight. In addition, longer term treatment with an eye patch can help. Covering the good eye with an eye patch forces the lazy eye to work. Over the course of months or years, a lazy eye can become functional again.
Refractive Errors
According to the website KidsHealth, refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye lens does not properly refract, or bend, light. This results in blurred images. Signs of refractive errors in children might be squinting or difficulty learning to read in school. Nearsightedness, or myopia, is the most common refractive error. In farsightedness, or hyperopia, children have trouble seeing close objects. The third refractive error is astigmatism, or improper curvature of the eye. Glasses or contact lenses can usually improve vision in children with refractive errors. Since refractive errors change over time, your children should regularly see an eye specialist to ensure that their prescriptions are current.
Strabismus
Strabismus is a visual problem in children that usually appears between the ages of two and six. It occurs if children do not learn binocular vision, or the ability to utilize information from both eyes at the same time. Esotropia means "crossed eye," and this means that the affected eye drifts toward the nose. The other type of strabismus is exotropia, or "wandering eye." In this situation, the affected eye drifts away from the nose. In both types of strabismus, each eye sends a different message to the brain. To avoid confusion and blurring, the brain adapts the protective mechanism of ignoring the affected eye. Over time, the brain rejects input from the affected eye. According to the Children's Vision Information Network, vision therapy is more effective than surgery at treating strabismus. Vision therapy develops coordination between the affected eye and brain, and retrains the brain and eyes to work together to achieve clearer binocular vision.
