Eye check-ups of children are appointments that are often ignored or rescheduled until your child experiences significant difficulty in vision. Initially, checks by the pediatrician are sufficient, but if there is a family history of eye problems, then visits to the ophthalmologist are mandatory. An eye exam is essential before your child joins the school as issues might reflect on your child’s performance at school.
Warning Signs
Difficulty in reading and writing, languid pace of work, reported trouble in seeing the board, blurred vision and headaches are warning signs that must be immediately addressed. These indicate that your child has significant problems concerning vision, and the earlier you get it checked, the better. Eye problems if left unattended might cause chronic issues that might even develop into a need for lifelong treatment.
Types of Health Professionals
There are three kinds of eye specialists whom you can contact. The ophthalmologist, who is a doctor who will conduct the examination, prescribe corrective lens, treat eye diseases and perform surgeries. The second type is an optometrist who offers the same services as an ophthalmologist but is a registered practitioner. The final kind of health professional is an optician who provides services associated with eyeglasses.
The Eye Examination
During the eye examination, you will be required to answer many questions based on your observation of your child. Some of them are listed below:
Is your child able to see well?
Does your child hold his/her books close to the face while reading?
Is your child’s vision straight or do his/her eyes drift often?
Do your child’s eyes appear unusual in any way?
Have you noticed any unusual drooping of an eyelid?
Has your child ever injured his/her eye?
Common Issues among Children –
Once you provide your answers to the questions, and medical professional completes the examination, the diagnosis is provided. The most common problems observed in young children are amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive errors.
- Amblyopia, commonly known as the lazy eye is identified by reports of poor vision which when left untreated might develop into vision loss or impairment.
- Strabismus is a case of misalignment of the eye, where both the eyes do not aim at the same object, and the eye which is misaligned eventually develops amblyopia. This can be very painful and dangerous, and correction through surgery or special glasses is advised.
- The final and most common eye problem is a refractive error where the eye is not properly shaped, or there is a case of blurred vision where the problem can be treated using glasses or lenses.
If your child is prescribed eyeglasses, then ensure that your child is comfortable. You can encourage your child to choose his/her frame for comfort, but make sure you use impact-resistant materials. In the case of purchase and use of contact lens, be more careful and make decisions based on your child’s maturity to handle lenses.
If your child is facing any eye problems then visit our website to book an appointment or call to schedule an appointment on –+91 – 7666-686848
