Adults know that “you can’t mess with your eyes”, but they are not always able to detect visual problems in children. When they complain of headaches, when they rub their eyes, when they sit too close to the television to watch their favourite programmes, they are sending out warning signs that suggest vision deficits. But the real problem is when the little ones are not aware of or are unable to express a condition that may affect the acquisition of information. Therefore, it is advisable to schedule regular appointments with a Paediatric Ophthalmologist or Optometrist , and be aware of the main warning signs and symptoms.
MAIN VISUAL PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN
Distance learning and the increased use of screens due to the pandemic have increased visual problems in children, particularly cases of myopia . At least this is what the VAN Project: Vision as Needed indicates, which has been carrying out screenings in several school groups in the city of Porto since last year. The result? Vision problems were identified in around 25% of the children. The data is not particularly surprising, as most ophthalmological disorders manifest during childhood and it is estimated that 1 in 4 children suffer from visual problems . This highlights the need for timely and appropriate treatment in order to avoid developmental impairments and learning problems.
Learn about the main visual problems in children, which can interfere in various areas of their lives, including school performance:
MYOPIA | WHEN CHILDREN SEE POORLY IN THE DISTANCE
Myopia is defined as a condition in which images focus before the retina, which is responsible for blurred vision in the distance. It is a vision problem, common in children, and usually starts between ages 6 and 14 years. It affects up to 5% of preschool-age children, about 9% of school-age children and almost 30% of teenagers.
Children are more likely to develop myopia if their parents are myopic . However, globally, myopia is increasing significantly in this age group. No one knows exactly what causes the progression, but several studies suggest that it may be related to the amount of time children spend on tasks in the environment. closed , such as the use of computers, tablets and video games.
TREATMENT OF MYOPIA IN CHILDREN
Myopia is an irreversible condition, but it can be treated! The goals of treatment are to improve vision by compensating for myopia with glasses or contact lenses , and to prevent it from progressing.
It is very important, in childhood and adolescence, in addition to compensating for myopia, to prevent its progression, because the greater the degree of myopia, the greater the likelihood of developing associated pathologies in adulthood.
Nowadays, there are optical treatments, such as peripheral blur technology lenses, which aim to control and reduce the progression of myopia.
HYPERMETROPIA | WHEN CHILDREN SEE POORLY AT DISTANCE AND CLOSE UP
Hyperopia is a condition in which images focus behind the retina, which is responsible for blurred vision in the distance and near .
Most children are hyperopic at birth (physiological hyperopia), but as the eye grows and develops, hyperopia tends to decrease, until it disappears in adolescence.
If it is not completely corrected by this age, hyperopia is likely to persist for the rest of your life.
In children under 8 years of age, who have not yet completed their eye development, there is a risk of uncorrected hyperopia causing strabismus or amblyopia (lazy eye) . Therefore, it is important to perform periodic visual examinations in children between the ages of 3 and 8.
TREATMENT OF HYPEROMETROPIA IN CHILDREN
It is very important to start treatment for hyperopia as early as possible to prevent complications and speed up functional recovery . To this end, treatment involves compensation with glasses or contact lenses.
Farsightedness not only reduces a child's vision, but can also trigger the development of strabismus or amblyopia , which can have a serious impact on the entire visual system. Therefore, the earlier treatment for hyperopia compensation begins, the greater the chance of preventing complications.
AMBLYOPIA | WHEN CHILDREN HAVE A “LAZY EYE”
Amblyopia – also known as “lazy eye” – is a visual dysfunction characterized by decreased visual acuity in one or both eyes, without the affected eye showing any structural anomaly. It is the most common cause of visual impairment in children and young adults! If diagnosed early, it can be treated appropriately, in order to preserve good visual acuity and binocular vision.
TREATMENT OF AMBLYOPIA IN CHILDREN
Treatment of amblyopia in children includes the use of glasses to compensate for the refractive error, the most common being hyperopia, vision therapy and also occlusion treatment . In the latter, the eye that sees better is occluded with an appropriate patch, to force the amblyopic eye, or the “lazy eye”, to develop and stimulate vision.
STRABISMUS | WHEN CHILDREN HAVE MISALIGNED EYES
Strabismus is a visual condition in which the eyes are not correctly aligned with each other when focusing on an object. There are numerous causes for the appearance of strabismus and its classification is complex . When present for much of childhood, it can lead to the development of amblyopia or loss of depth perception. Visual examinations , recommended for all children without exception, allow the detection and prevention of the appearance of some types of strabismus.
TREATMENT OF STRABISMUS IN CHILDREN
Treatment for childhood strabismus will depend on the type of strabismus, but non-surgical treatment options include: the use of optical compensation ( glasses), vision therapy exercises , and occlusion treatment in the healthy eye. In more extreme cases, surgical treatment may be necessary.
ASTIGMATISM | WHEN CHILDREN HAVE DISTORTED VISION
Astigmatism is an irregularity in the shape of the cornea or lens that causes blurred vision at all distances . Children with astigmatism may have difficulty reading text or seeing fine details in objects both near and far. Common symptoms include headaches and eyestrain.
TREATMENT OF ASTIGMATISM IN CHILDREN
When astigmatism is detected in childhood, it is possible to compensate, in the vast majority of cases, with glasses or contact lenses .
MAIN SIGNS OF EYE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN
Now, learn about some of the signs that indicate that your child may have a vision problem:
– Learning difficulties;
– Watching television too close;
– Reading with the book very close to your eyes;
– Skip a line when reading;
– Close one eye to read from a distance or watch television;
– Tilting your head to read or watch television;
– Rubbing your eyes a lot;
– Complaints of headache or eye pain.