Every parent wants what’s best for their child, and good eye health is no exception. Pediatric eye care is essential to your child’s health needs, as your child’s vision will not fully develop until age 9. Therefore, it’s important that your child start routine exams as early as age 3, so that any conditions can be detected early. Here’s the common conditions that can affect your child’s eye health.
Strabismus
This is medical term for misalignment of the eye, or what has commonly been referred to as “cross eyed.” There can be different types of Strabismus depending on the type of misalignment, such as:
- Exotropia- An outward turning of one or both eyes
- Esotropia- An inward turning of one or both eyes
- Hypertropia- When one eye is higher than the other
- Hypotropia- When one eye is lower than the other
When detected early, misalignments can be adjusted by prescription glasses, eye exercises or surgery.
Amblyopia
Known as a “lazy eye”, this eye condition is exclusive only to children, and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated early. When a child has Amblyopia, one or both eyes send distorted images to the brain, which then results in the brain associating blurry vision with that particular eye. However, through prescription glasses, wearing a patch over the dominant eye, and/or dilating eye drops, along with correcting any misalignment (strabismus), the brain can relearn what clear vision is for that particular eye.
Conjunctivitis
Otherwise known as “pink eye”, this condition causes the eye to appear reddish or pink, and can occur when the eye is introduced to bacteria, viruses, chemicals or allergies. Pink eye is commonly treated with antibiotic drops or ointment if the cause is felt to be bacterial. Viral forms of pink eye will resolve on their own with time and rest. Occasionally, an anti-inflammatory drop may be prescribed if significant redness and discomfort are present.
Quality Care For Your Child
At Piedmont Eye Center, Dr. Gail L. Ganser, Lynchburg’s only Pediatric Opthamologist, is specially trained to handle common childhood eye conditions, so that your child has the best chance at healthy vision. Book an appointment for your child today!