Pediatric Ophthalmology
The approach varies from child to child. Each young patient is tested both in terms of the acidity of each eye and in terms of the ability of the child to use both eyes simultaneously. So in each patient we test his vision ability, ocular mobility, binocular cooperation, structural integrity of his eyes and need for glasses.
To achieve all this, the child can be asked to read cards, numbers or play with us depending on his age. During the examination it may be necessary to dilate the pupil with eye drops, which takes about 40 minutes. When dilation is achieved, then the bottom of the eye and the child’s need for glasses can be checked even without the cooperation of the child. The pupils will remain dilated for 3-6 hours after the examination. So a routine examination can take up to an hour and it takes patience and encouragement of the child.
How does a child see and what should we know about his vision?
Every child knows the world through his senses. Then she learns to move, communicate, engage and develop skills.
Vision has the role of the brain’s leading informant, supplying 90% of all sensory information that reaches the brain. Vision begins to develop after childbirth. The newborn baby sees blurry, colorless and only from close distances, while during the infant – preschool & school period vision improves quickly, becomes color and detailed. But it reaches adult levels at the age of 8-9 years.
Therefore, we should remember that:
– The vision of children under the age of 8 differs significantly from that of adults
– In the first 9 years of life each age has its own normal vision scores
– The vision of each child should be compared only to the normal scores of his age
– All preschool children have some refractive error, but only 3% of them need to wear glasses.
– We only give glasses to children who do not see as much as they should for their age, or when they see but with difficulty (eg squints, adopting strange head and eye positions, etc.)
At what age should my child's eyes be examined for the first time?
Premature children with a birth weight below 1500gr should be examined around the 4th week after childbirth to exclude or confirm the existence of retinopathy of prematurity. Monitoring of these people should be continuous throughout their childhood.
Children with hearing deficits, muscle problems and neurological deficits should be examined as soon as possible.
Children with a family history of strabismus or amblyopia should be examined around the age of 2 years. Normal children are checked by their pediatrician for visual function and are referred to the ophthalmologist if there is a problem. Parents can, if at some point they think that something is wrong with their child’s eyes, seek the advice of an ophthalmologist.
An essential element of any surgical procedure, especially cosmetic surgery, is providing the patient with sufficient time for information.
When should we check the children's eyes?
From the maternity hospital, children’s eyes should also be checked to assess the development of their visual system, and to identify any “bad techniques” such as congenital cataract, congenital glaucoma, bulb malformations, etc.
However, because the operation of the visual system improves rapidly during the first 8-9 years of life, the tests should be repeated, especially during pre-school years. The second test must be done at the completion of the first year of life, where the visual system is also checked operationally: if the child focuses, watches, squints or exhibits some other strange behavior.
Checks should be continued during pre-school and early school years, with emphasis on the ages from 3 to 6.
The purpose of the tests is to monitor the normal development of vision, the early detection of a problem and its timely treatment.
Eye problems are not uncommon in childhood. But some children have higher rates of eye diseases, such as: premature, children with neurological problems, children with syndromes and chronic diseases, children with a family history of eye problems.
Is there a problem with my kid sitting too close to the TV?
Most kids like to watch TV nearby. If there are no other findings this behavior is considered normal.
Why choose Dr. Trakos?
Dr. Trakos’ contribution to the field of anterior segment and cataract surgery, as well as to the treatment of vision problems, has changed the lives of many people by improving their sight and quality of life.
Does my child not speak or does not know the letters and numbers how to examine it?
The function of vision is sometimes inferred indirectly from behavior. There are tests that do not require verbal confirmation on the part of the child. Many times what is interesting is the comparison between the two eyes. For older children talking, toys or cards can be used to control vision. There are also objective tests for checking vision at any age or for the need to use corrective glasses without the need of the child’s response.
A complete anatomical examination of the eyeball by the ophthalmologist will
reveal anatomical disorders that may affect the child’s vision.
My child squints. Will it overcome the problem?
The most common cause of referral to the ophthalmologist is pseudostrabismus. Most young children give the impression that their eyes are turned towards the nose. This is due to the still small head and the large base of the nose that hides part of the white of the eye towards the side of the nose. As the child grows, this impression of squinting ceases to exist. This led to the misconception that the child can overcome the problem (pseudostrabismus). But when it comes to true strabismus then the child needs help from the ophthalmologist, because on its own it will not overcome the problem.
My child complains of headaches. Is it because of his eyes?
There are several causes of headache. The examination must be started by his pediatrician. The most pediatricians will also refer to the ophthalmologist to check for any eye disorders. An ophthalmological evaluation may give some interpretation to headaches as much as they are most often not caused by eye problems.
I have hyperopia and my husband is short-sighted. Will my child need glasses?
Children’s eyes resemble those of parents. If parents wore glasses in kindergarten, then children should be examined before their three years, unless they squint or suspected of impaired vision, in which case they should be examined as soon as possible. School-age myopia usually begins in primary school and is noted by the child or pediatrician.
My child is having trouble reading, is there a problem with his eyes?
Usually dyslexia and related problems are treated by specialist psychologists. Sometimes an ophthalmological assessment is needed to exclude vision problems that rarely exist.
When should we suspect some visual behaviors that should worry us as parents?
In infancy
– If the baby after the second month of life does not look them in the eyes
– If he keeps his head wrong when he looks
– If after the 4th month he does not reach out to catch
– If an eye continues to squint after the 3rd month of life
– If the two eyes do not look the same (one smaller)
– If the pupil of the eye, whitens
– If the eyes move strangely
In preschool age
– If it is not social
– If sitting near the TV
– If he often rubs his eyes
– If he is late to walk
– If any of his eyes get crooked
– If it stumbles frequently
– If he keeps his head in a strange position when he looks
– Avoiding nearby activities
– If he does not do things (activities) of his age
In school children
– If you experience disturbed attention and concentration
– If you are frequently complaining of headaches
– If you are complaining of double or blurred vision
– If it is difficult to see clearly on the school board and on television
– If it presents difficulties in school and sports tasks
– If you have another chronic health problem
– Avoiding nearby activities
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