Childhood eye diseases and conditions

CEBU, Philippines – In the light of the present sore eyes incidence in the city and other parts of the country, it's the children that everyone is particularly worried about. Given the fact that children are

both non-communicative of their discomfort and that any eye disease poses a threat to the most essential sense of vision, sore eyes in children is a grave concern of parents.

And yet, with the little ones' carefree nature and fragile bodies, children are most vulnerable to contagious ailments like sore eyes.

But sore eyes or not, there are many eye conditions and diseases that can affect a child's vision. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to maintaining your child's eye health. It is, thus, important that parents follow these screening recommendations to preserve their child's vision. The website geteyesmart.org lists some of the focus-and-alignment disorders and eye diseases that commonly affect children:

Focus-and-Alignment Disorders

If any of the following conditions is suspected, the child will need to be examined by an ophthalmologist or eye doctor.

Amblyopia.

The term refers to poor vision in an eye that has not developed normal sight, usually during early childhood. The condition is sometimes called "lazy eye." It occurs when visual acuity is much better in one eye than the other. Amblyopia is common and affects two or three of every 100 people in the U.S.

Amblyopia can be a result of strabismus or misaligned eyes. One eye may look straight ahead while the other turns in, out, up or down. The eye turn may be constant, or may be occasional or intermittent. Signals from the misaligned eye are "turned off" by the brain to avoid double vision, so the child uses only the better-seeing eye. Strabismus affects about 4 percent of children in the U.S. Amblyopia can result as well from eye problems other than strabismus.

If it seems that the vision in one of the child's eyes is significantly better - or weaker - than the other, the child needs to be examined by an eye doctor.

Ptosis.

This one involves a drooping upper eyelid that covers the eye either partly or entirely, and so blocks vision.

"Cloudy" eyes. If the surface of the eye, which is normally clear, instead appears cloudy, the child may have a cataract or eye disorder that needs treatment.

Common Childhood Eye Diseases and Conditions

When any the following diseases is suspected, the child needs to be examined by a primary care physician or children's health service, who will co-manage the child's care with an eye doctor when necessary.

Conjunctivitis or sore eyes.

This can refer to either a viral or bacterial infection - both very contagious - or an allergic reaction, which is not contagious.

The eye appears red or pink due to inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, filmy membrane that covers the inside of eyelids and white part of the eye. The eye tears, has discharge or both, and is usually itchy and uncomfortable.

When a viral infection is the cause, the child may also have a fever, sore throat and runny nose.

If the child has (or may have) contagious sore eyes, he or she needs to stay home and not go to school in order to avoid infecting others. Contagious pink eye usually resolves in three to seven days. When the tearing and discharge from the eyes has stopped the child may return to school.

Chalazion.

This one looks like a small lump on the eyelid, and may occur when a meibomian gland, an oil-secreting gland in the eyelid, becomes clogged. It is not caused by infection.

Stye. It looks like a red, sore lump near the edge of the eyelid; it is caused by an infected eyelash follicle.

Preseptal or Orbital Cellulitis.

It is an infection related to trauma, an upper respiratory infection or an eyelid infection.

The tissues around the eye appear red and painfully swollen. The condition usually occurs in one eye, which may be swollen shut. The child may have a fever. More serious preseptal or orbital cellulitis infections can cause decreased vision, an inability to move the eye, and the appearance of the eye being pushed forward.

Both forms of cellulitis are serious conditions that require urgent medical attention. The affected child shall be taken immediately to a primary care doctor or other qualified health professional, who will co-manage the child's treatment with an ophthalmologist.

Blocked Tear Duct.

This happens is when the eye's drainage system for tears is either partially or completely obstructed. Tears cannot drain normally, causing a watery, irritated or chronically infected eye.

Symptoms of a blocked tear duct may include watery eyes or tears running out of the eyes.

A baby can be born with a blocked tear duct, but the condition usually resolves on its own within the first year of life. In some cases, the ophthalmologist may recommend the use of a special massage technique to help open up the membrane covering the lower opening into the baby's nose. He or she will demonstrate how to correctly do this massage.

Babies and small children are in such delicate phase of life, still in the fundamental process of their physical development. Any condition that is not dealt with or handled properly at this stage can have lifelong repercussions.  It goes without saying that utmost care and attention by parents can go a long way for the children's wellbeing.