The eyes are important organs in your body that are responsible for vision. The eyes are interconnected with muscles to help with eye movements and nerves to help with processing the viewed image to the brain. Sometimes, eye anomalies occur or the muscles in the eye become weak. Following are some of the major pediatric eye disorders.
Retinoblastoma
The Mayo Clinic says that retinoblastoma is a form of cancer that affects the inner lining of the eye. This type of cancer is typically found in children. In fact, it affects about 300 children annually in the United States, report experts at the National Cancer Institute. Retinoblastoma can also occur in adults but this is rare. Experts at the Mayo Clinic say that manifestations of retinoblastoma include eye redness or swelling and the appearance of a white spot on the pupil when light is shined on the eye.
Treatment for retinoblastoma includes chemotherapy and radiation to eliminate any cancer cells. Laser therapy and cold or hot treatments can be used to treat retinoblastoma. Laser therapy involves eliminating the blood vessels that actually supply the tumors with nutrients and oxygen. Cold treatments involve freezing the cancer cells with liquid nitrogen. Heat treatments involve using heat to destroy the cancer cells. Also, surgery may be used to remove the eye (enucleation). An eye implant or artificial eye can also be placed.
Strabismus
Strabismus is commonly known as "crossed eyes." Specifically, this is a pediatric eye disorder in which the eyes move in different directions. Unfortunately, the cause of strabismus is unknown. However, more than 50 percent of children suffering with strabismus have this condition at birth or a bit after birth, says MedlinePlus. Other specific manifestations of strabismus include double vision (diplopia), loss of depth perception, visual problems in one eye and crossed eyes.
Treatment for strabismus involves obtaining glasses or simply exercising your eye using eye exercises. Also, using an eye patch can also help. Sometimes, surgery is necessary to correct strabismus.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia is an eye disorder, also known as lazy eye. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, amyblyopia is the top cause of vision loss in children. In fact, they state that three out of every 100 children suffer from amblyopia. Specific manifestations of lazy eye include an eye that won't turn in or out. Poor depth perception and eyes that work in different directions are other symptoms of strabismus.
Like strabismus, eyeglasses and eye patches may be used to correct amyblyopia. Covering the stronger eye with an eye patch can actually strengthen the weaker eye. Eye drops, such as atropine, can blur vision in the stronger eye and help strengthen the weaker eye. Surgery is another option to treat amblyopia.
