Vision issues can be challenging to treat successfully if they’re not spotted early. Regular eye exams with a pediatric optometrist are crucial in diagnosing and treating childhood vision issues. More and more children are being diagnosed with eye problems. Prompt treatment can make a massive difference to their developing vision.
Signs of vision issues in children
Symptoms of poor vision in children may include squinting, poor hand-to-eye coordination, sensitivity to light, headaches, an inability to focus for extended periods, and difficulties in the classroom.
Addressing these issues with a pediatric optometrist is crucial for swift diagnosis and corrective treatment. A pediatric optometrist has undergone specific training to diagnose and treat vision problems in children.
Treatments for common childhood vision issues
As with adults, common eye problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be managed with corrective lenses. Pediatric optometrists can also treat more serious but reasonably common vision issues like amblyopia and strabismus.
Amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” occurs when vision fails to develop in one or both eyes. In cases where only one of the eyes is affected, the brain blocks out the blurred image transmitted by the weak eye, hampering its visual development even further.
Pediatric optometrists treat unilateral amblyopia with a combination of glasses and covering the strong eye with a patch, encouraging the lazy eye to strengthen and develop. In some cases, they may also recommend a course of vision therapy.
Strabismus is sometimes referred to as “crossed eyes.” Parents may notice one or both of their child’s eyes are turning outward, inward, upward, or downward. Strabismus can be intermittent or constant. Because the condition can interfere with the transmission of images to the brain, strabismus may also cause amblyopia, known as “strabismic amblyopia.” Treatment involves vision therapy and, in some cases, surgery.
Prevention is better than cure
The best treatment for childhood vision issues is preventative care. Often, parents don’t notice their children are exhibiting symptoms of serious eye conditions until the problem has worsened.
The American Optometric Association recommends children have their first eye test at the age of 6 months. Pediatric optometrists use incredible techniques to examine the vision of very young children, and the sooner your child diagnosed with an eye problem, the sooner it can be treated.
If you are considering booking your child’s first eye examination or you are concerned that their vision may not be developing correctly, search your local business listings to find the best pediatric optometrist in your area.