Pediatric Eye Problems

Several eye problems are often seen in newborns and children, some of which are no cause for concern and will self-correct naturally. In either case, any apparent abnormality should be checked by a doctor, as it could be the sign of a more serious condition.

Blocked Tear Ducts

• Blocked tear ducts are a condition seen in 2 to 4 percent of newborns and of these cases, 90 percent resolve naturally. Treatment for this condition in babies is usually simple, consisting of antibiotic eye drops being put in every four to six hours and pressure being applied to the eye. Following this regimen, blocked tear ducts should correct themselves by the time the child is 8 months old.

Amblyopia

• Amblyopia, or lazy eye as it is more commonly known, is a common condition that affects one out of every 40 children, according to pediatric eye specialists Alan B. Richards and John D. Hinrichsen. Lazy eye is a noncomplex condition in which the affected eye deviates inward, outward or upward but is almost always perfected in line with the unaffected eye, but is simply out of focus. The brain in this case will prefer to use the eye that is in focus more often than the lazy eye. To correct this condition the child will probably need to wear and eye patch on the normal eye. This forces the lazy eye to send more information to the brain therefore making it so the brain does not favor one eye over the other. Eyeglasses can also be worn by a child with amblyopia in order to help straighten the eye. However, in many cases simply wearing glasses and doing nothing else will not correct a lazy eye.

Pediatric Cataracts

• Although cataracts are much more common in adults, children can be born with this condition or develop it later. Many times cataracts in a child can be diagnosed at birth or some time within the first few months. If the cataract is large and significantly decreases the child's vision, surgery may be suggested. Cataracts must be removed as soon as possible no matter what age the person is when they appear. In newborns it is very important to perform the surgery within the first month of their life, because if surgery is delayed, the brain has often already switched its receptors to the other eye and cannot learn to use the eye that was affected by the cataract. If the cataract is small enough, surgery may not required and the child may only need to wear glasses to help increase vision.

Strabismus

• Another common eye problem often seen in infants and children is strabismus, or crossed eyes. Although some straying and misalignment of the eye in the first few months is common, continued activity after this period could be the sign of a much more serious condition such as Apert syndrome, Cerebral palsy, rubella, Noonan syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome. Surgery to correct strabismus is generally quick and painless and the child can usually resume normal activities within a day or two.

Infectious Conjunctivitis

• More common in school-age children than babies, infectious conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is one of the most common eye conditions, due to its highly contagious nature. Pink eye can be caught by touching someone who has touched their eye or touching anything that has touched the eye at all. Treatment of pink eye can depend on which type it is. Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotics in a drop or ointment. Viral conjunctivitis cannot be treated with antibiotics and will usually clear up on its own in just a few days. Keep in mind that both types of infectious conjunctivitis are contagious.