Regular routine visits to an eye doctor can ensure your children’s eyes are developing as they should. These visits also offer you and your child’s eye doctor the chance to see if your child is developing any of these five common pediatric eye conditions:
1. Strabismus
Strabismus is the medical name for a condition where the eyes are misaligned. You may notice your child’s eyes do not point straight ahead, but may instead both point toward your child’s nose. Alternately, one eye may point outward, down, up, or inward while the other remains straight.
This condition can become amblyopia (or lazy eye) or permanent vision loss. Strabismus can be treated in a variety of ways, but it’s important to begin this treatment early.
2. Refractive Errors
Refractive errors make seeing difficult for your child, and often mean your child needs glasses. It’s important to correct refractive errors promptly, as they can lead to other issues. The most common of these refractive errors are:
- Nearsightedness
- Farsightedness
- Astigmatism
3. Amblyopia
Lazy eye happens when one of your child’s eyes is weaker than the other and thus doesn’t achieve normal function or visual acuity. It can occur when vision issues such as strabismus or refractive errors aren’t corrected promptly.
Common signs of amblyopia are:
- Closing one eye to read or watch television
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Squinting
- Difficulty with focus or attention
- Trouble reading, playing sports, or doing math
- Head tilting
4. Pediatric Ptosis, or Drooping Eyelid
Ptosis occurs when the muscles that lift the eyelid are too weak. While this is sometimes just a cosmetic concern, a drooping eyelid can negatively affect a child’s vision. A child may experience blurry vision, amblyopia, and even vision loss. It is important to your children’s eye health to treat this condition promptly if it presents itself.
5. Pediatric Cataracts
Children can be born with cataracts or can receive them from an injury. These can impair your child’s vision and cause other difficulties. Common signs include:
- Misalignment of the eyes
- Trouble seeing objects or recognizing faces
- White or grey pupils
- Quick, involuntary back-and-forth eye movements
Caring Pediatric Vision Care Starts at Valley Eyecare Center!
Let Valley Eyecare Center help your child learn good vision habits that will keep their eyes healthy throughout their lives! You can contact us online, or call us at (602) 955-2700 for an appointment!
