The right to view!
CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL
“Eye problems affect one in 20 pre-school children and one in four school-age children” (Shroff Eye Vision Screening Program, Mumbai, 2003-4).
“Two to four percent of children in India develop a squint [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, the brain will eventually “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 examination among pre-school and primary school children is rarely practiced in India unless an obvious problem is observed. Often the problem is resolved too late. It is possible to check vision 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 of all newborns by the pediatrician.
2. All premature babies need an eye exam by an ophthalmologist
3. First detailed 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 vision 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 present times
“Many pediatric ophthalmologists believe that heavy computer use among children puts them at risk of early myopia. [short sightedness]”The average child now spends one to three hours per 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 25-30% of children who use computers need corrective glasses to work comfortably and safely on the computer at home or at the school.See below for tips on how to prevent computer vision syndrome in children.
Tips on daily eye care for children:
1. Diet: A healthy diet with an emphasis on green leafy vegetables, thigh, carrot, beetroot, 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 shaded lighting. Ideally, reading material should be placed between 12 and 14
inches away
3. Display screens or VDUs include televisions and computer screens.
Headaches, eyestrain, burning, tearing, blurred vision, double vision, and nausea can be caused by prolonged work on display screens.
Avoid watching TV in a dark room. A room well lit 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. When 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. Computer avoidance can also be an indication of discomfort. Don’t let your child 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 “nuddle” their eyes, which can become habitual and lead to permanent corneal abnormalities.
5. Swimming: Airtight swimming goggles prevent irritation due to chlorine and reduce the chances of infection.
6. Sports: If your child participates in ball games and/or contact sports, polycarbonate safety glasses are recommended.
7. Ultraviolet Light: Exposure to sunlight is healthy in moderation and helps the body produce vitamin D. Too much exposure to bright sunlight is harmful and can cause damage. Wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking 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. Normal tear circulation is sufficient 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
Myth about strabismus: ‘Squinting in a child should wait until they grow up’
In general terms, 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.
Eye Exam Timing Myth: ‘Kids Don’t Need Eye Exams Until They’re In School’
FAKE. It is recommended that each child’s eyes be examined regularly from birth. Some eye problems, such as crossed eyes or amblyopia (lazy eye), can cause permanent loss of sight in the affected eye if they are not detected and treated before the child is five or six years old.