Pediatric Ophthalmology: Children's eyes need early attention
                     
Children’s eyes need early 
attention
Several hidden eye problems can be detected and vision, or a lazy eye. Children with a refractive error in Childhood 
prevented  as early as birth. Furthermore, a routine only one  eye may never complain of reduced vision Glaucoma This rare condition in 
eye examination from  age 4 onwards is so a vision test is  ideally recommended from age 4. If children  occurs when 
recommended for all children. parents or close family  members have glasses since increased eye  pressure 
childhood, their children have results in large eyes,  optic 
1 a higher chance of needing glasses too. of the cornea. It a potenntiearlvlye  bdlainmdaingge  caonndd citloiound ianngd Lazy Eye must be  treated immediately. Depending on the 
(Amblyopia) condition, childhood  Glaucoma can be treated with This is poorly developed 
COMMON EYE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN eye drops or surgery.vision  in one eye at an 
early age due Childhood 
The Children’s Eye Clinic at Hinduja Healthcare to ‘lack of stimulation’ of Cataract This clouding of the lens of 
Surgical treats It affects 1-3.5 % of childtrheant  aenyde. can occur the eye  is responsible for 10% 
the most common eye problems in children:
•duSeq utoin:t of blindness  in children.
Squin • Uncorrected refractive 
t This condition is when one error Childhood Cataract can be caused by:
eye  is straight and the other • Droopy eyelid • Congenital (Idiopathic)
is turned
away. A squint is not just a • Cloudy eye (corneal • Infections (e.g. Rubella)
a permanent reduction inc ovsismioent iicn the lazy eye.  opacity)Conventional treatments like glasses and patching are • Metabolic diseases (e.g. Galactosaemia)
Sometimes, a squint can pbreo bdleetmec, tbeudt a cta bni rlteha.d A tnod u• sCuaatlalyr a ec�t ective only till age 7-9. This is a silent • Steroid intake
contrary  to common belief, a squint will not go condition and can only  be detected with an eye This condition must be treated as early as possible with 
away by itself, examination. Both these reasons make  it critical to surgery.  In fact, cataracts present at birth are best 
it needs to be treated as early as possible. treat a lazy eye as early as possible. treated before
A squint can be treated in any of the following 
ways: Droopy eyelid 
6 weeks of age.
(Ptosis)
• Glasses Whether complete or Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
partial,  Ptosis is not just a 
• Patching This is an abnormal vessel formation in the retina cosmetic  problem. If the that occurs
• Fusion exercises lid obstructs the  vision, it in preterm babies (under 34 weeks or 1.5 kg birth 
• Surgery reduced vision or a laczayn  ceayues. e Cpheirlmdraene nwtith a weight).  A dilated eye examination at 4-6 weeks 
droopy eyelid  should be checked as early as age 
• Botulinum toxin injection (Botox) after birth must be  conducted and depending on 
Refractive one for refractive errors,  and fitted with glasses if the severity, either a laser
errors nmeaeyd ende.e Ad complete droopy eyelid treatment or regular monitoring is needed. Preterm 
surgery. children  have a higher incidence of squints and 
Watery or Sticky Eye in Newborns refractive errors, and  should have a routine eye Wexea malsinoa ttrieoant  bcoenfodriteio angse li k4e.:
This usually occurs due to • Childhood Orbital conditions (Proptosis)
Myopia Hypermetropia Astigmatism a blocked tear (Nasolacrimal) •
duct.  Glaucoma and FB may Eye problems related to learning 
10-12 % of children are a�ected by reduced vision due be the other  rare causes of disabilities
to the  optics of the eye being out of focus. Myopia watering at this age and neurologically challenged children
(Near Sightedness),  Hypermetropia (Far Sightedness) and must be ruled out first. Although 90% of blocked • Genetic eye conditions
and Astigmatism are common  refractive errors and tear ducts  spontaneously recover by age one, if this • Blocked tear ducts (NLD Obstruction)
should be treated as early as possible with  glasses or door epsr onboint gr ectify on its  own, watery and sticky eyes • Corneal transplant in children
contact lenses. This helps prevent further loss of s(shuorugledr yb)e.  treated with a massage
• Artificial eyes and contact lenses
• Low vision aids (telescopes and magnifying 
glass)