Vision Problems in Children

Vision problems can go unnoticed in children as it does not induce any physical pain. There are many possible causes of vision problems in children and it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that eye screening is carried out at routine intervals so that these issues do not develop into serious eye problems in adulthood and their later years.

What Causes Vision Problems in Children?

Strabismus
Commonly known as cross-eyed or wall-eyed, strabismus is a condition in which a child is unable to align both the eyes simultaneously under normal conditions. It is estimated that around 5% of all children are affected by this disease. This is why, the American Optometric Association recommends an eye screening in the first nine months of the child's birth.

Amblyopia
Also known as lazy eye, it is one of the most common causes of vision problems in children. In this condition, the one eye of the child becomes weaker than that of the other one. This problem cannot be corrected by using glasses or contact lenses so it is very important that the parents take their children to a doctor for an early comprehensive vision examination.

Retinopathy of Prematurity
This vision problem is seen in those children who are born prematurely. Retina, one of the important parts of the eye starts developing when the infant is in the womb. It starts developing during the 16th week of pregnancy and is completed by 36 week. In case an infant is born prematurely, retinopathy of prematurity occurs.

Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer that effects the retina and effects around 400 children in United States every year. The most obvious symptom of retinoblastoma is the formation of 'white pupil' in the eye. Most of the kids who develop this disease are born with it and when diagnosed early on, it is cured easily and children are able to maintain good vision.

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

• Difficulty in reading and writing.
• Closing one eye or tilting the head in one direction while reading.
• Continuous rubbing of eyes and recurring headaches are also the symptoms of vision problems.
• Skipping lines while reading complaining of floaters in the eye can also be the signs of vision problems.
• Excessive tearing from both the eyes during day can be a sign of ophthalmus, a condition in which the eyes do not close fully while sleeping.

Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is of great benefit in treating vision problems in children that cannot be cured through glasses or contact lenses. Vision therapy helps children by conducting workshops and fun-activities so that children actually look forward to attend these programs. Before embarking on a vision therapy, the child should be first checked by a doctor who will complete a comprehensive assessment of the vision problem of the child and then make a recommendation for a therapy based upon the check-up. Vision therapy has helped many children with their vision problems and you can definitely consult your doctor to know if your child too would benefit from the same.

Most parents do not show much urgency in taking their kids to an eye screening center as they feel that the schools frequently conduct these tests, but parents should always remember that the tests conducted in the school are basic in nature and various vision complications can go unnoticed. The best way to ensure that any vision problems are diagnosed at an early stage is to take your children to an ophthalmologist frequently.