Iris Publishers-Open Access Journal of Ophthalmology & Vision Research| Does your Child have a Vision Problem?
Authored by Manal Hassan Abuelela
Good vision and eye health are a critical part of child’s learning
and development. As vision continues to develop up until the age of
8 or 9 years old, it’s important to have your child’s eyes checked so
that any issues can be detected early enough to treat.
There is a difference between a vision screening, which can be done at your child’s primary care provider, and a comprehensive eye exam, which is typically conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Moreover, it’s important for parents to keep an eye out for warning signs of vision problems that can develop in between those screenings and exams [1]. Many parents and caregivers believe the screening performed by the child’s pediatrician or other primary care physician or school nurse is sufficient to rule out all significant visual disorders. However, these screenings are limited and were not intended to replace a comprehensive eye examination [2]. Health education of parents and guardians on the need for frequent eye examination and necessary treatment is an important WHO strategy in developing countries where a good number of people have poor knowledge of the importance of eye examination and treatment, hence neglecting eye care for their children [3].
Blindness in children can be avoidable with preventive measures and when eye examination and treatment is early and frequent. In the developed world, children are required to undergo eye examination at birth and as early as six months. By six months an average child has attained a number of developmental milestones and so can undergo a full eye examination. Afterwards, a comprehensive eye examination is necessary at the preschool age and frequently during the school age.
There is a difference between a vision screening, which can be done at your child’s primary care provider, and a comprehensive eye exam, which is typically conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Moreover, it’s important for parents to keep an eye out for warning signs of vision problems that can develop in between those screenings and exams [1]. Many parents and caregivers believe the screening performed by the child’s pediatrician or other primary care physician or school nurse is sufficient to rule out all significant visual disorders. However, these screenings are limited and were not intended to replace a comprehensive eye examination [2]. Health education of parents and guardians on the need for frequent eye examination and necessary treatment is an important WHO strategy in developing countries where a good number of people have poor knowledge of the importance of eye examination and treatment, hence neglecting eye care for their children [3].
Blindness in children can be avoidable with preventive measures and when eye examination and treatment is early and frequent. In the developed world, children are required to undergo eye examination at birth and as early as six months. By six months an average child has attained a number of developmental milestones and so can undergo a full eye examination. Afterwards, a comprehensive eye examination is necessary at the preschool age and frequently during the school age.
About 5% to 10% of preschoolers have vision problems. About 10% of school-aged children have vision problems. Without proper screening, vision problems may not be detected, and permanent loss of vision may occur [5]. Children rarely complain when they have vision problems because they do not know that their vision is not normal. They think that everyone sees the world the way they do. So, parents and teachers have important responsibility to recognize the signs of vision problems in order to identify children who need a complete eye examination [6].
Children Who May be at Risk for Vision Problems
If there were health problems during pregnancy (such as measles, infections, toxemia, drugs or alcohol), they were born prematurely, there were complications at birth( such as long labour, lack of oxygen), they had certain childhood illnesses (such as high fever, viruses), there is a family history of vision problems (such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, or wearing strong glasses) or they have certain health conditions or developmental disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hearing loss, developmental delay, Autism)
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