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better when looking at things that are
near than it is at a distance. Myopia
often requires corrective lenses to
help children who cannot see the
blackboard at school.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia is commonly known
as “farsightedness,” and it refers the
inability to focus on objects that are
near. Like Myopia, Hyperopia often
requires corrective lenses.
There are many other more common, and less serious eye conditions
that children and their parents often
encounter. The following is a list of
such conditions. If any of the following are suspected your child’s primary
care doctor should be consulted.
Conjunctivitis
A Closer Look: Vision
Issues in Children
By Dana Sizemore
Keeping an eye on your child’s
vision may be more important
than you think. According to the
American Association for Pediatric
Ophthalmology and Strabismus
(AAPOS), the most effective way
to detect childhood vision issues is
for children to be screened periodically throughout their childhood,
from infancy through the teenage
years. This is because eye health can
change at a rapid pace and the earlier a vision problem is detected the
better chance your child will have
for responding to the appropriate
treatment. “Good vision,” says the
AAPOS, “is key to a child’s physical
development, school success, and
well-being.”
A child’s first eye exam occurs
when he is a newborn. Just after
birth, the physician or practitioner
will examine your baby’s eye, pupil
and red reflex. From there, your
child’s pediatrician should perform
a routine eye exam during his/
her yearly check-up. In Kentucky,
public school children are required
to undergo a documented vision
screening before entering kindergarten.
There are many eye issues that can
affect a child’s vision. Listed below
are some common alignment, focus
and refractive disorders. If any of the
following conditions are suspected,
your child will need to be examined
by an optometrists or even an ophthalmologist. These eye conditions
could require corrective lenses, corrective treatment or they could even
be a symptom of a more serious
underlying health condition. These
eye disorders include:
Amblyopia
Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis can refer to a viral or a bacterial infection in the eye, or even an
allergic reaction. The eye will appear
red and watery due to inflammation
and discomfort. Conjunctivitis is very
contagious. Children with conjunctivitis should be kept out of school or
daycare to prevent further spreading.
Chalazion
A stye and a chalazion look the
same on the eye; both cause a red
lump on the eyelid. A stye, however,
is caused by an infection, rather than
a blockage.
Blocked Tear Duct
A blockage of the tear duct refers
to an obstruction of the eye’s drainage
system. If tears cannot drain normally,
the end result is a watery, irritated or
chronically infected eye.
The following is a list of symptoms
that could indicate your child has a
vision issue:
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Eye misalignment
Jerking eye movements
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