About Eye - KIDS AND EYE

When should a child have their first eye exam?

  • Immediate after  birth if any history of premature birth, incubation, lots of watering, swelling near the eye
  • The first eye exam should really occur in the nursery shortly after the child is born.
  • Once child enters pre school
  • Every 2 years  after child is 6 years of age
  • Annually if there is strong history of parents having refractive errors

Is eyesight inherited or genetically linked, just like eye color?

  • Usually kids' eyes are not exactly like either parent as far as their size and shape, and that's what determines whether you need glasses or not
  • But, suffice it to say that if one or both parents needs glasses, the chance that a child will need glasses goes up several times, although it's not 100 percent. If either or both parents wear glasses, then kids should be followed more closely.
  • Also, there are some genetic eye problems like retinitis pigmentosa and congenital cataracts that are heritable and definitely run in families
  • Every 2 years  after child is 6 years of age
  • Any time there's an eye disorder in the family; kids should be followed from an early age

Are there signs a parent should watch for that might signal their child is having a hard time seeing? What are they?

  • Yes, often kids, even before they can express it in words, will rub their eyes,watering
  • Frequent blinking,
  • Squint, an eye will drift outward or cross inward
  • Goes very close to television
  • Requires taking books very close for reading .All of these can be signs that children are having trouble seeing.

Does teacher play role in identifiying child's problem?

    Yes, teacher might notice certain symptoms like
  • Child does not want to read for long time or gets frustrated while reading
  • Child comes closer or in front benches to copy from board
  • Child might not complete their books and always wants friends book to copy
  • Child goes very close to read from their books
  • Child closes one eye, squeezes to view blackboard

If a child is losing interest in classes or becoming frustrated with school, is their eyesight something parents should consider checking?

  • Vision problems should always be ruled out in that situation. A lot of times it's other things that are contributing to that, but certainly if you have a vision problem, that's going to make any other issues even more pronounced. So they should always start with an eye evaluation to rule that out.

How are a child's eyes tested for vision problems?

  • We have a lot of objective ways of measuring kids' vision, both what they see and what their prescription is, whether they have any anatomic problems, whether their eyes are formed properly.
  • They don't really have to participate in any way as far as talking. A lot of it seems like a game to them because we use a lot of toys and other things that just seem like they're playing.
  • Even in kids who can't talk yet, we can get a very accurate exam and measure whether they need glasses.(with help of retinoscope)

How often should a child have their eyes tested?

    It depends on different factors:
  • Age
  • Family history
  • An abnormal exam in the past
  • Your eye doctor can suggest you after you go for first check up

Is the treatment for children with vision problems always glasses?

  • No, it depends on what the vision problem is.
  • Age is a big factor.
  • There are conditions where the treatment is glasses.
  • There are conditions where the treatment can be glasses along with (exercises) vision therapy
  • There are other problems where the treatment is surgery.
  • There's a very wide range of vision problems that can affect kids and even the treatment may vary

If left untreated and the child has a vision problem, how might that reflect on their grades in school or even their ability to do well in sports?

  • Children's eyes are very different from adults in that children can get amblyopia and that means if not treated on time can affect their vision permanently
  • If chid has binocular vision problem that can affect their depth perception, which of course can have an effect on some sports.
  • It can affect their ability to see comfortably and see well in school; and eventually can even affect getting a driver's license or further career selection options
  • So in kids, there really is a time factor if they have an eye problem.

Once if My child has got glasses will the go and can it further increase?

  • If child is myopic(minus numbers) that won't go and changes of it to increase is likely as the child grows
  • If child is Hyperopic (plus numbers) than it might increase, be stable or reduce as the child grows
  • But once child has got glasses, he needs to wear them regularly because
  • The treatment for many conditions is just wearing glasses
  • Parents should not be worried about how high the power is but they should be rather concerned about child vision with glasses

Is there any medication which can reduces the power of child's eye or make him glass free?

  • There is no medication to reduce the power of the eye
  • Only option to make him glass free is to wear contact lens of do Lasik (surgery to remove power) after the age of 18 yrs

Are contact lenses safe for children?

  • Yes, if taken proper care
  • If hygiene maintained
  • Wearing modalities and recommendations are followed as prescribed to you by your eye care practitioners

Eyegiene

The simple eye care methods include flushing the eyes with fresh clean water after waking up. An important aspect of flushing the eye care with water is that the person concerned should have a mouthful of water prior to the action. Otherwise, forceful flushing of water can even lead to adverse circumstances including bleeding from the eyes.

Eye Bank

Gokhale Eye Hospital and Eye Bank Tel : 022-24221820
Parel eye bank: 022-24162929

MUMBAI HOTLINE FOR EYE DONATION IS 1919.

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