 |
| |
 |
What to look for to detect eye disease in Children? |
 |
|
How the eyes appear? |
|
|
How the child sees? |
|
|
(Listen to..) What your child says? |
|
|
What to do if you suspect your child has an eye problem? |
|
|
Preparing your child for an eye exam |
|
|
Your Role |
|
|
What to look for to detect eye disease in Children? |
|
| |
Children’s eyes change rapidly, and problems can occur at any age. That’s why it’s important to observe your child’s eyes and to pay attention to how your child acts and what he or she says.
|
 |
|
|
How the eyes appear? |
|
| |
Anything unusual in the way your child’s eyes appear can be a sign of a problem. Watch for the following: |
| |
 |
Eyes that cross or one eye that turns in or out, or up or down. |
| |
|
One eye that seems different in some way, such as a larger or smaller pupil. |
| |
|
Eyes that look crusty, swollen, bloodshot, or red – rimmed |
| |
|
Eyes that water a lot. |
| |
|
Any discharge, bleeding, or red bumps on the eyelids. |
| |
|
A pupil that shows a white rather than a red reflection in a color photograph. |
|
|
|
How the child sees? |
|
| |
Unusual behavior can sometimes be a sign of an eye problem. Watch your child for any of the following warning signs: |
| |
|
Closing one eye or turning or tilting the head to see the things. |
| |
|
Squinting to see things in the distance. |
| |
|
Not seeing things you point out. |
| |
|
Consistently holding objects close to the face or sitting very close to the TV (most children do this sometimes) |
| |
|
Blinking or rubbing one eye a lot. |
| |
|
Running into objects or falling down at night or in places that aren’t well lit. |
|
|
|
(Listen to..) What your child says? |
|
| |
Once your child is school age, he or she may be able to tell you about eye problems. Listen for mention the following: |
| |
|
Not seeing the chalkboard at the school. |
| |
|
Things looking blurry or funny. |
| |
|
Eyes that itch, burn, or feel scratchy |
| |
|
Getting hit in the eye, or getting something in one eye. |
| |
|
One or both eyes hurting, or a pain in ore around one or both eyes. |
| |
|
Light making the eyes hurt. |
|
|
|
What to do if you suspect your child has an eye problem? |
|
| |
Childhood eye problems don’t go away on their own, but most won’t damage sight if treated early. Take your child to an eye doctor or to your pediatrician as soon as you spot a problem. Your doctor can check your child’s eyes at any age. |
|
|
|
Preparing your child for an eye exam |
|
| |
Your child may be afraid of an eye exam and may not cooperate. You can help by telling your child what to expect: |
| |
|
There won’t be any shots. |
| |
|
The doctor may put drops in your eyes .The drops may sting for a few seconds, and your vision may get a little blurry, but this will go away shortly. |
| |
|
The doctor shines a light in your eyes to see inside them. |
| |
|
The doctor asks you to name pictures or letters or point to things. You may wear special glasses or sit at a big machine. |
|
|
|
Your Role |
|
| |
Pay attention to your child’s eyes and behavior. Call the doctor if you notice a problem or if your child complains. And have your child’s eyes checked at 6 months, 3 years, 5 years, and at last once between the ages of 7 and 18. Correcting vision problems early is the best way to correct your child’s sight. |
|
|
|
 |
