The right in sight!
CHILDREN WHO GO TO SCHOOL
“Vision problems affect one in 20 preschool children and one in four school-age children” (Shroff Eye Screening Program, Mumbai, 2003-4).
“Two to four percent of children in India develop a strabismus [cross-eyed] and/or amblyopia [lazy eye]. Early detection and treatment of these disorders during childhood is essential to prevent permanent vision loss.”
In many cases the child does not see well with one eye, since there may be a refractive error [spectacle number] in that one eye. Here the eyes do not work as a team to see. If your child’s brain does not receive visual images from that eye, eventually the brain will “turn off” that eye and vision could be permanently affected. This condition often goes undetected because the child has learned to read with the good eye. During an eye exam, in which each eye is examined separately, this condition can be diagnosed.
Eye screening among preschool and primary school children is rarely performed in India unless an obvious problem is observed. Often the problem is solved too late. Vision can be tested in children who cannot read alphabets. All children attending kindergarten must be screened upon admission.
How to detect these common eye problems?
1. Basic ophthalmological examination for all newborns by the pediatrician.
2. All premature babies need an eye exam by an ophthalmologist
3. First comprehensive eye exam for all children 6 months of age; again at 2 years, and then annually.
4. Screenings at school are designed to alert parents to the possibility of a vision problem, but are not a substitute for a visit to an ophthalmologist. One study found that 11.3 percent of children who passed an eye exam had a vision problem that needed correction.
5. Detailed eye examination by an ophthalmologist in the presence of visual impairment.
6. An annual follow-up exam by the ophthalmologist is recommended to be aware of your child’s visual needs, as well as to ensure that your child’s eyeglass prescription continues to be correct. The visual system develops along with your child, so yearly prescription changes are common.
An increased risk of eye problems at a young age in current times
“Many pediatric ophthalmologists believe that intensive computer use among children puts them at risk for early myopia. [short sightedness]”The average child now spends one to three hours a day on the computer doing homework, talking online with friends, and playing games. Parents encourage two- and three-year-olds to use the computer. Several recent studies have evidence of that computers can have a negative impact on a child’s vision They have found that between 25% and 30% of children who use computers need corrective glasses to work comfortably and safely on the computer at home or in the office See below for tips on how to prevent Artificial Vision Syndrome in children.
Tips on daily eye care for children:
1. Diet: A healthy diet with an emphasis on green leafy vegetables, drumsticks, carrots, beets, fresh fruits such as mango and papaya are particularly rich in vitamin A.
2. Lighting: The light source should be placed behind your child while reading. Avoid direct glare by using shielded light. Ideally, reading material should be placed between 12 and 14
inches apart
3. Display screens or VDUs include televisions and computer screens.
Headaches, eyestrain, burning, tearing, blurred vision, double vision, and nausea can all be caused by prolonged work on display screens.
Avoid watching TV in a dark room. A well-lit room with white light. [tubelight] it is ideal.
The preferred viewing distance for watching TV is 4 meters or more.
Position the computer screen at or slightly below eye level and in such a way that reflections and glare are minimized. The recommended distance between the monitor and the eye for children is 18 to 28 inches. By looking at a computer screen closer than 18 inches, children risk straining their eyes. Parents and teachers should be aware of any behavior that indicates potential problems, such as eye redness, frequent eye rubbing, head turning and other unusual postures, or complaints of blurred vision or eye strain. Avoidance of the computer can also be an indication of discomfort. Do not allow the child to sit for more than 40 minutes at a time in front of a computer monitor.
4. Allergies and frequent colds: they must be taken care of and treated. Eye allergies can cause a child to “pink” their eyes, which can become habitual and lead to permanent corneal abnormalities.
5. Swimming: Airtight swimming goggles prevent irritation due to chlorine and reduce chances of infection.
6. Sports: If your child participates in ball games and/or contact sports, polycarbonate protective eyewear is recommended.
7. Ultraviolet light: Exposure to sunlight in moderation is healthy and helps the body produce vitamin D. Too much exposure to bright sunlight is harmful and can cause damage. Wide-brimmed hats and UV-filtering sunglasses provide adequate protection.
8. The application of ‘kajal’ to newborns, wash the eyes with normal water, rose water, etc. it is absolutely NO-NO. The normal circulation of tears is enough to adequately cleanse the eye of any foreign material.
The gift of vision is very precious. Give your child the best start in life by visiting your eye doctor today.
Common myths in children
Strabismus myth: ‘A child’s strabismus should wait until he grows up’
Generally speaking, strabismus in children should be corrected before the age of 9. This is because later on, although cosmetic treatment may be possible, the child after 9 years of age will still have poorly developed vision due to lazy eyes due to strabismus.
Myth about eye exam timing: ‘Kids don’t need eye exams until they’re in school’
Fake. It is recommended that every child’s eyes be examined regularly from birth. Some eye problems, such as crossed eyes or amblyopia (lazy eye), can lead to permanent vision loss in the affected eye if not detected and treated before a child is five or six years old.
