5 Common Eye Issues in Children and How Early Intervention Can Help
Our optometrists love helping children see clearly! A visit to the eye doctor helps ensure that kids’ young eyes are developing correctly.
When kids can see clearly, they avoid frustration at school, on the playground, and in sports. They immerse themselves more freely in tasks that require depth perception.
If kids need any kind of vision correction or eye care, early treatment and intervention can drastically increase the chances of the best possible outcome. That’s why we recommend regular vision screenings and eye exams for children, especially if you have a family history of vision issues.
What exactly are we looking for when we screen children’s vision? Here are five of the most common eye issues in children — and what you can look for to help catch problems early.
1. Amblyopia (“Lazy Eye”) in Children
Amblyopia, commonly referred to as “lazy eye,” is a relatively common vision problem. It’s actually the most common cause of vision loss in children, according to the National Eye Institute.
Amblyopia usually occurs when one eye has stronger vision than the other. The brain begins to rely on the eye with stronger vision than the other. That eye overcompensates, and the brain starts disregarding signals from the other eye.
Amblyopia Symptoms
Kids might show typical signs of poor vision, like squinting. You might also notice them covering up an eye.
However, many parents won’t notice any issues until a regular vision screening or back-to-school exam. If that’s the case, don’t beat yourself up! That’s the whole point in ensuring your child has their vision evaluated regularly: to catch problems that aren’t apparent.
Correcting Amblyopia
Thankfully, amblyopia is treatable with early detection and treatment in order to prevent the brain from over-correcting and stopping to rely on signals from the eye.
Glasses or contact lenses can strengthen the vision in the so-called lazy eye and help both eyes to work in tandem. The optometrist might also recommend sessions with an eye patch on the stronger eye to help retrain the other eye.
2. Strabismus (Crossed Eyes or Eye Turns) in Children
Strabismus in kids occurs when their eyes aren’t aligned. Certain eye muscles may be pulling too loosely, or too strongly.
Strabismus Symptoms
You may notice that your child’s eyes aren’t pointing in the same direction. This may manifest as crossed eyes, or one eye looking straight and the other turning in a different direction. Which eye looks forward may switch.
There are different types and levels of severity of stabismus, so it may present differently from images you see of other children with crossed eyes or eye turns.
Strabismus Treatment Options
Sometimes, strabismus can be treated with eyeglasses or eye drops to help strengthen vision in the weaker eye, which can help eyes maintain alignment. Other times, strabismus will require eye muscle surgery by a pediatric ophthalmologist. Certain muscles may be tightened or loosened in order to help the eyes align and focus more naturally.
An eye exam will help determine which treatment option is best.
3. Convergence Insufficiency in Children
With convergence insufficiency, eyes have a difficult time cooperating to focus on things close up. This is due to the nerves that help control eye movement not working properly.
Rather than both eyes coming together to focus on the object that is close, one will focus, and the other may point or flick away.
Convergence Insufficiency Symptoms
Kids may struggle with reading or working on things close up. They might complain of double vision, headaches, or their eyes hurting from the strain. These symptoms can cause problems with reading and studying, which can affect performance at school and even lead to a diagnosis of a learning disorder.
Symptoms may be worse after prolonged exposure to screens.
Treatment for Convergence Insufficiency
In-office optometric vision therapy, including eye exercises, can help train the eyes of children with convergence insufficiency to work together more effectively at close distances. Many children who suffer from convergence insufficiency experience great results from these in-office sessions.
4. Eye Tracking Problems in Children
Eye tracking is the way the eyes work to follow the flow of text on a page while reading, or to follow the motion of an object. Usually, the eyes can smoothly follow an object as it moves. If a child has eye tracking problems, they may follow it in flickers, or lose track of the object.
Symptoms of Eye Tracking Problems
Trouble reading is one big sign of eye tracking problems, especially if your child is mixing up word order. They might also use their finger to help mark where they are in a sentence.
Children who experience eye tracking problems might also struggle with sports, especially those that require them to keep their eye on the proverbial ball. Their eyes simply can’t track moving objects effectively without treatment.
Because their vision might otherwise be good, eye tracking problems can go undiagnosed or attributed to being behind in reading, needing more practice, etc.
Treatment for Eye Tracking Problems
Many eye tracking problems can be alleviated with in-office optometric vision therapy. The eye doctor will lead your child through certain eye movements and exercises in order to help the eyes improve at tracking.
5. Congenital Cataracts (Childhood Cataracts) in Children
While people often assume that cataracts happen only to people later in life, many parents and caregivers are surprised to hear that kids can also be born with cataracts. This condition is called congenital cataracts. Occasionally, cataracts may also develop at a young age.
Symptoms of Congenital Cataracts
Sometimes, congenital cataracts don’t affect vision at all. Other times, they may cause problems like double vision in one eye, blurry vision, and more. In fact, having congenital cataracts can cause many of the other vision conditions on this list.
How Congenital Cataracts are Treated
If our optometrists diagnose congenital cataracts, they will determine whether cataract surgery is required. Surgery to remedy cataracts is a straightforward way to remedy the problem and ensure clear vision; however, if the cataracts aren’t affecting vision, it may not be necessary.
Conclusion: Eye Exams Help Catch Vision Issues Early
Regular eye exams for kids go a long way towards catching problems early, when corrections are easiest to make. Whether or not you have a family history of vision problems, making sure your child’s eyes are regularly evaluated can help save them from unnecessary struggle.
If you have concerns or questions about your child’s vision, contact our office to set up an appointment with a periodic optometrist. We’re always happy to see our youngest patients and set them up for a lifetime of healthy vision!
Dr. Eric Torgerson
Owner at Poudre Valley Eyecare
Dr. Eric Torgerson is the owner of Poudre Valley Eyecare, and has been recognized for his contributions to optometry and his commitment to community health through various roles and accolades within the Northern Colorado Optometric Society and the Colorado Optometric Association.
Why Choose Us?
Our advanced technology and individualized care deliver results for patients of all ages. Our routine exams allow us to spot changes in your vision and allow us to treat those changes early. We have a comprehensive understanding of eye care, which means we can treat a wide range of conditions and chronic diseases. Our in-depth routine exams and customized treatment plans set us apart from the rest.
