Are your kids finding it difficult to read? Do you see them rubbing their eyes often? Eye problems in children are increasing nowadays. Living in a digital world, kids are more exposed to laptops and mobile phones, and it has resulted in an increasing number of eye problems among them.

It is crucial to identify the issue and take necessary actions to ensure that they can perform everyday activities without any hindrance.

Let us look at the common eye problems in children and how to treat them early. Before we dive into it, it is also vital to identify the symptoms kids with eye problems exhibit.

Symptoms to look for in Children

The common symptoms exhibited by children with eye problems include:

• Poor focus
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty reading
• Redness of the eye
• Inability to see the blackboard or distant objects
• Rubbing the eyes
• Sitting too close to the television

If children exhibit any of these symptoms, it is critical to consult the Best pediatric ophthalmologist In India at the earliest to understand why.

Common Eye Problems in Children

●       Astigmatism

It is a condition where objects placed at a distance and near appear blurred. An irregularly shaped cornea can cause astigmatism. It is common to have this problem with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).

Symptoms:

• Distorted vision
• Headaches
• Eyestrain
• Trouble seeing at night

Treatments:

• Prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses

●       Droopy Eyelids (Ptosis)

Ptosis or drooping eyelid is caused by the weakness of the muscles that raise the eyelids. A droopy eye blocks the light passing to the retina or creates astigmatism that produces blurry images in the eye.

Symptoms:

• Drooping of the eyelids
• Increased tearing, and
• Blocked vision

Treatment:

• Wearing prescribed eyeglasses or patches
• Surgery is required if the problem is severe.

Regular eye check-ups are a must for kids with this problem to track their progress and to identify if there are any new developments.

●       Lazy Eye Syndrome (Amblyopia)

Lazy eye syndrome is when one eye has poor vision. The brain fails to recognise the inputs from one eye and starts ignoring them over time. The weaker eye’s vision development is obstructed, leading to long-term vision problems.

Symptoms:

• Squinting or shutting one eye
• Head tilting, and
• Difficulty assessing how far or near an object is.

Treatment:

• Wearing a patch over the strong eye forces the brain to start using the weak eye.
• Eye drops for the strong eye, and
• Correcting any underlying vision problems.

●       Chalazion

A chalazion is a swelling or lump on the eyelid because of a blocked gland. It occurs when a meibomian gland (an oil-secreting gland in the eyelid) is clogged. Initially, it is painless, but it gets painful when the swelling spreads to the entire eyelid. Symptoms:

• Swollen eyelids
• Watery eyes
• Mild eye irritation
• Blurry vision

Treatment:

• Eye drops
• Warm compress

●       Epiphora

Tears usually don’t harm your eyes, but excessive tearing can impact your eyes. Epiphora is a similar condition where the child constantly gets watery eyes or excess tearing. It is caused due to blockage of tear ducts, infected eyes, or allergies.

Symptoms:

• Redness of the eyes
• Eyelid Swelling
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision

Treatment:

• Gentle massage of the tear duct
• Eye drops
• Minor surgery if it persists.

Conclusion

Children might not know when their vision is affected, so adults should be watchful. They need to ensure that their kids don’t spend too much time watching digital screens and engage in more activities apart from it. They also need to look for any signs exhibited by the child when he/she has an eye-related problem.

If it’s not diagnosed early, it can lead to severe and lasting vision problems.  In order to detect eye problems in children, it is advisable to have regular eye exams with the Best eye doctor in India.