Children's Eye Care

Proper eye care during childhood and infancy can prevent long term vision loss and blindness. Problems with the eyes that go undetected can also lead to learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
Babies and young children often cannot express, or may not even be aware of, vision and other eye problems. Early detection may save your child’s sight. There are many symptoms to watch for in children including:

Watery eyes
Light sensitivity
White, gray, or yellow matter in the pupil
An entirely white pupil
Persistent redness
Persistent pus or crust
Bulging eyes
Drooping eyelids
Eyes that flutter from side to side or up and down
Eyes that are crossed, point away from each other, or point in different directions
Frequent rubbing of the eyes
Frequent squinting
Tilting of the head
Any noticeable change in the eyes

Babies should start making steady eye contact by two or three months old, and should be able to follow objects with their eyes at three months old. Eye ExamsBabies’ eyes should be checked during their regular visits with the pediatrician. They will be checked at birth and at wellness visits. If your baby shows symptoms of eye problems, schedule an exam with an ophthalmologist right away. All children should have a complete children’s eye exam, with an eye doctor, by the age of three.

Children should have a complete eye exam with an eye doctor, not just the pediatrician, before starting kindergarten and every year or two after that if their eyes are healthy. Children who require corrective lenses should have an eye exam at least once a year.

Many schools offer vision screenings performed by the school nurse. These screenings are a valuable service for children whose parents cannot or will not take them to an eye doctor. They do not replace a complete eye exam performed by an ophthalmologist. School nurses do not have the training or equipment to detect many sight-threatening eye conditions, and relying on these screenings can permanently cost your child his or her vision.
Pink eye, infections, and allergiesNo matter how many times you tell them not to, children stick their fingers in their eyes. They touch everything. They do not wash their hands.

Eye infections are contagious, and eventually most children will get one. Red, itchy, irritated eyes, usually accompanied by crustiness or yellow discharge, can be caused by infections or allergies. Most eye infections are treated with antibiotic ointment. If your child has these symptoms do not send him or her to school or day care, it could be contagious. Make an appointment to see the eye doctor right away. If you already have antibiotic ointment, do not let your child use it. Old ointment can harbor bacteria and make the infection worse.

Eye health and educationVision and eye health have a major impact on a child’s education.
Vision screenings using an eye chart only detect about 5% of vision problems in children. Visual skills encompass far more than the ability to focus on distant objects. The eyes must work together properly, be able to focus on the page or computer screen and move properly across the page. Poor vision and eye strain can cause frustration, physical pain such as headaches, and an inability to learn in a classroom setting. Many problems that are misdiagnosed as behavioral or psychological problems are really the result of poor vision or eye strain. These problems can be detected and treated if the child has a thorough eye exam.

If your child has not has an eye exam recently, displays any symptoms of vision problems, or is having difficulty in school, contact an ophthalmologist today.