Healthy eyes and vision are a critical part of kids'
development. Their eyes should be examined regularly, as many
vision problems and eye diseases can be detected and treated
early.
Eye Doctors
Be sure to make vision care and eye checks a part of your
child's routine medical care.
Different kinds of doctors offer eye care, and the names can be
confusing:
-
Ophthalmologists
are doctors who provide comprehensive eye care with medicine and
surgery.
-
Pediatric ophthalmologists
have special training to treat kids' eye problems.
-
Optometrists
provide routine primary eye care and can prescribe eyeglasses and
examine vision.
-
Opticians
fit and adjust eyeglasses.
Eye Exams
Routine medical exams for kids' vision include:
- Newborns should be checked for general eye health by a
pediatrician or family physician in the hospital nursery.
- High-risk newborns (including premature infants), those with
a family history of eye problems, and those with obvious eye
irregularities should be examined by an eye doctor.
- In the first year of life, all infants should be routinely
screened for eye health during checkups with their doctors.
- Around age 31/2, kids should undergo eye health screenings
and visual acuity tests (or tests that measure sharpness of
vision) with their doctors.
- Around age 5, kids should have their vision and eye alignment
evaluated by their doctors. Those who fail either test should be
examined by an eye doctor.
- After age 5, further routine screenings should be done at
school or the doctor's office, or after the appearance of
symptoms such as squinting or frequent headaches. (Many times, a
teacher will realize the child isn't seeing well in
class.)
- Kids who wear prescription glasses or contacts should have
annual checkups to screen for vision changes.
Spotting Eye Problems
Signs that a child may have vision problems include:
- constant eye rubbing
- extreme light sensitivity
- poor focusing
- poor visual tracking (following an object)
- abnormal alignment or movement of the eyes (after 6 months of
age)
- chronic redness of the eyes
- chronic tearing of the eyes
- a white pupil instead of black
In school-age children, watch for other signs such as:
- inability to see objects at a distance
- inability to read the blackboard
- squinting
- difficulty reading
- sitting too close to the TV
Watch your child for evidence of poor vision or crossed eyes. If
you notice any eye problems, have your child examined immediately
so that the problem doesn't become permanent.
If caught early, eye conditions often can be reversed.
Common Eye Problems
Several eye conditions can affect kids. Most are detected by a
vision screening using an acuity chart during the preschool
years.
-
Amblyopia
(lazy eye) is poor vision in an eye that appears to be normal.
Two common causes are crossed eyes and a difference in the
refractive error between the two eyes. If untreated, amblyopia
can cause irreversible visual loss in the affected eye. (By then,
the brain's "programming" will ignore signals from
that eye.) Amblyopia is best treated during the preschool
years.
-
Strabismus
is a misalignment of the eyes; they may turn in, out, up, or
down. If the same eye is chronically misaligned, amblyopia may
develop in that eye. With early detection, vision can be restored
by patching the properly aligned eye, which forces the misaligned
one to work. Surgery or specially designed glasses also may help
the eyes to align.
-
Refractive errors
mean that the shape of the eye doesn't refract, or bend,
light properly, so images appear blurred. Refractive errors also
can cause eyestrain and/or amblyopia. Nearsightedness is the most
common refractive error; others include farsightedness and
astigmatism:
-
Nearsightedness
is poor distance vision (also called myopia), which is usually
treated with glasses or contacts.
-
Farsightedness
is poor near vision (also called hyperopia), which is usually
treated with glasses or contacts.
-
Astigmatism
is imperfect curvature of the front surface of the eye, which
is usually treated with glasses if it causes blurred vision or
discomfort.
Other eye conditions require immediate attention, such as
retinopathy of prematurity
(a disease that affects the eyes of premature babies) and those
associated with a family history, including:
-
Retinoblastoma
is a malignant tumor that usually appears in the first 3 years of
life. The affected eye may have visual loss and whiteness in the
pupil.
-
Infantile cataracts
can occur in newborns. A cataract is a gradual clouding of the
eye's lens.
-
Congenital glaucoma
in infants is a rare condition that may be inherited. It is the
result of incorrect or incomplete development of the eye drainage
canals before birth and can be treated with medication and
surgery.
-
Genetic or metabolic diseases of the eye,
such as inherited disorders that make a child more likely to
develop retinoblastoma or cataracts, may require kids to have eye
exams at an early age and regular screenings.
Be sure to talk to your doctor if your child is at risk for any
of these conditions.
Glasses and Contacts
Kids of all ages - even babies - can wear glasses and
contacts.
Keep these tips in mind for kids who wear glasses:
- Allow kids to pick their own frames.
- Plastic frames are best for children younger than 2.
- If older kids wear metal frames, make sure they have spring
hinges, which are more durable.
- An elastic strap attached to the glasses will help keep them
in place for active toddlers.
- Kids with severe eye problems may need special lenses called
high-index lenses, which are thinner and lighter than plastic
lenses.
- Polycarbonate lenses are recommended, especially for kids who
play sports. Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent thermoplastic
used to make thin, light lenses. However, although they're
very impact-resistant, these lenses scratch more easily than
plastic lenses.
Infants born with congenital cataracts may need to have their
cataracts surgically removed during the first few weeks of life.
Some children born with cataracts wear contact lenses at 6 months
of age.
Around age 10, kids may express a desire to get contact lenses
for cosmetic purposes or convenience if they play sports. Allowing
a child to wear contacts depends on his or her ability to insert
and remove lenses properly, faithfully take them out as required,
and clean them as recommended by the doctor.
Your eye doctor can help you decide what type of vision
correction is best for your child.
Reviewed by:
Sharon Lehman, MD
Date reviewed: July 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.