Eye disease affects many children, causing damage to the eye and overall vision. Because some conditions may be present from birth or appear during early years, a child may not have the communication skills to inform parents of vision changes or problems. Early diagnosis and treatment gives a child the best chance of retaining vision. As a result, parents must have some awareness of degenerative childhood eye diseases and symptoms.
Congenital Cataracts
Some infants have congenital cataracts, a condition that appears at birth and results from a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. In an eye without a cataract, the lens is clear and allows light to properly enter the eye, without disruption. The cataract disrupts vision and gradually worsens. Symptoms of congenital cataracts include a visible whiteness of the pupil area, lack of visual awareness or rapid, abnormal eye movement, says MedlinePlus. In mild cases, children may not require early treatment of the condition, but an eye doctor monitors vision and overall eye health. If the doctor feels the cataract will cause long-term vision damage, he may recommend surgical removal of the cloudy lens.
Retinoblastoma
The lining of the back of the eye consists of sensitive tissue called the retina. Some children, particularly in early childhood, may have cancer of the retina, a condition doctors refer to as retinoblastoma. Symptoms include a white appearance in the pupil area, eye misalignment, redness and swelling of the eye, says MayoClinic.com. Because the retina has a vital role in providing vision, the growth of the tumor causes significant changes in vision. Treatment often includes chemotherapy, radiation or surgical removal of the tumor. For some children, depending on the extent of the cancer, the doctor may recommend other therapies, such as laser treatments that destroy the blood vessels that feed the tumor.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis Pigmentosa causes a gradual deterioration of the cells that make up the retina, the back lining of the eye. The condition causes a progressive deterioration in vision. In the initial stages, retinitis pigmentosa causes a person to adapt slowly to low lighting. Side vision will gradually deteriorate. The first signs usually appear in childhood and adolescence, though some people may have the first signs in adulthood, says Prevent Blindness America. Doctors have no methods to treat this degenerative eye disease, but early detection may provide time to plan and understand the ways the condition will affect the eyes.
