Understanding Pediatric Ophthalmology and it’s Significance

Pediatric Ophthalmology, in its essence, deals with children’s visual problems. There are several reasons why pediatric eye specialists have a differentiated practice. The primary reason is that children have different needs than adults and may often not be able to communicate the problem effectively. This requires a specialist that can understand the needs of the child and perform a thorough diagnosis to determine the cause of any problems. Secondly, several diseases manifest in different ways in children than they do in adults and are, as a result, tackled differently. Let us understand some of the common children’s visual problems, their early signs, and treatments. There is further increase in problems for children in metropolitan cities due to increase in pollution that can cause an array of problems. Therefore, if you live in Delhi it is advisable that you get your children tested by a pediatric ophthalmologist in Delhi.

Strabismus or Squint Eye

Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes may not be, and one or both eyes point up or down instead of straight. This condition can lead to a lazy eye if it is not treated on time and is one of the common children’s visual problems. This misalignment can happen if the muscles fail to work. The squint in the eye may not be visible at all times; it may change from day to day, and even in the hours of the day.  However, there may be cases in which a child does not have Strabismus but appear to have so because of the illusion created by eyes that are too close together or abroad and flat nose. To detect Strabismus, it is imperative for children to get regular check-ups to ensure that they are not at risk of developing the disease. Squint eye cannot be outgrown. It continues to affect the child until it is treated. The treatment is administered according to the progression of the problem and can be a combination of corrective glasses, medication, and surgery.

Amblyopia or Lazy Eye

Amblyopia or lazy eye is a condition that arises in case one eye gets weaker than the other. This happens when the one eye has a clearer vision than the other, causing the eye to become stronger and the other one to become weaker. It may also be a consequence of a squint eye that causes the suffering eye to have a low-quality vision. If lazy eye is not treated, then it may result in the weaker eye being rendered useless. The treatment of lazy eye is started with the treatment of underlying causes if any. The most popular treatment is patching the stronger eye to allow the weaker eye to work and gain back the vision. Other corrective measures are corrective glasses, surgery, and medication.

Refractive Errors

Refractive errors occur when the light does not focus properly on the retina. This may cause conditions like myopia and prevent the child from seeing clearly at a distance, or it may manifest into hyperopia or farsightedness. Refractive errors may affect the child’s day to day functioning, and it is imperative to take early-stage corrective measures for children’s vision problems. Corrective glasses or laser treatment can correct refractive errors.

Don’t ignore your child’s eye problems. Early detection and regular check-up can prevent unnecessary suffering and be the gateway to a healthy, problem-free life. If you are a resident of Delhi, you can visit an eye specialist in South Delhi or an eye clinic in South Delhi. To consult a pediatric ophthalmologist in Delhi and get treatment and check-ups, you can visit the trained and experienced eye consultants at IClinix.