Most children have excellent eyesight and do not need glasses.

Some children have their vision checked at school (between the ages of 4 and 5). However, the earlier some things are diagnosed, the better the treatment results. If there are problems and they are not diagnosed at an early age, the child may have permanently reduced vision in one or both eyes. If you have any doubts about your child’s vision or if there is a family history of strabismus or lazy eye then do not wait for the eye exam at school. See your ophthalmologist or optometrist for a full examination. The child does not need to be able to speak or read in order to be examined.

‘Most children have excellent eyesight’

Infants

Infants can see when they’re born, but their eyes don’t always focus precisely. An infant’s eyes may sometimes not focus in the same direction, but when this is done all the time, it should be investigated. Infants’ eyes develop gradually. After about six weeks they should be able to follow something colored or interesting with their eyes.

An easy test you can do after six weeks is to see if your infant is watching as you move around the room. If it seems like he can’t focus on you properly—for example, if they can’t follow you or react to your expressions, or if his eyes move while he looks at you—then there’s probably something wrong. You can also alternately cover the eyes of the infant. If your infant reacts differently when you cover one eye than when you cover the other, then one eye may have less vision than the other. As your infant grows, you can show him objects near and far. If you find it difficult to see them then it is best to contact your ophthalmologist or optometrist for further advice.

Myopia and hyperopia

Light entering the eye must focus correctly on the back of the eye (retina) to be able to see clearly. Some people have eyes that are either shorter( hypermetropic) , causing light to fall behind the retina . This means that to see clearly they need to focus more than they should, especially on nearby objects. Other people have eyes that are slightly longer, so the light focuses further forward than the retina (they are nearsighted). This means that they cannot see objects clearly if they are far away from them (for example, the TV or the whiteboard at school). Both of these cases are very common.

Astigmatism

When the eye is more egg-shaped than a sphere, light rays may focus on more than one point in the eye, resulting in no clear image. For example, one may confuse ‘N’ with ‘H’. Glasses correct this asymmetry and clear vision. However, they may make it difficult for a child at first until he gets used to them.

‘Don’t wait for a child to tell you that he has a problem with his eye’
‘Wearing glasses won’t make your eyes worse’

Lazy eye and strabismus

About 2-3% of children have lazy eye, clinically known as amblyopia.This may be because one of the two eyes is much more myopic or farsighted than the other, or they may have strabismus (when one eye does not have the same direction as the other). If you notice that the infant has an squint after the sixth week, he should be examined by an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. The sooner we deal with ir, the better his eyesight will be as the child grows. If a lazy eye is not cured by the age of 7-8 then its vision may be permanently affected.

The NHS suggests that all children should be screened by the first year of school.This is important because many children may not have realized that something is wrong with their vision and parents may not be able to see it. If for any reason the child is not examined at school, then parents should arrange for the child to be examined by an ophthalmologist.
Don’t expect your child to tell you that he has a problem with his vision. Children believe that what they see is normal, unable to compare.

Treatment depends on what caused the lazy eye.
If the child simply needs glasses, the ophthalmologist or optometrist will give them to correct vision problems.
If the child has a squint, then it can be completely or partially corrected with glasses or even need an operation that should be done as soon as possible.
If the child has a lazy eye, eye drops or blockade therapy (covering the other eye) can help activate the lazy eye.

Whether a child needs glasses or not, depends on the size and shape of his eyes. When a child wears glasses, they will not change their shape and will not harm the child’s eyes. If the child has a lazy eye, his vision will improve dramatically when he puts on his glasses. The ophthalmologist or optometrist will tell you when and how long your child should wear his glasses.

Which children should be examined

The child’s eyes should be examined if:
-there is a history of strabismus or lazy eye in the family (parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.)
-people in the family had to wear glasses at an earlier age
– children with special needs. Children with special needs often have problems with their eyes.
Symptoms to look for:

One eye turns outwards – it may be easier to see when the child is tired
– when they rub their eyes frequently (except when they are tired, which is then normal).
– when for an unknown reason their eyes water
– when children are clumsy or have poor hand-gaze cooperation.
– when the child avoids playing, reading or writing something nearby.
– when they close one eye or clench their eyes in front of the TV or when reading.
-when they sit too close to the TV or when they hold books or toys that are unusually close to their face.
– when they have problems concentrating or behaving at school
-if their performance in school is not so good.
-when they complain of blurred or double vision or headaches.

‘The earlier the problem is addressed, the better the results’

Simple treatments such as wearing glasses or covering the eye for a while may be enough to solve the problem. The earlier eye problems are detected, the better the results will be.
If flash photos of your child show ‘red eyes’ in only one eye, then you should talk to your ophthalmologist or optometrist for more information. This may be a sign of more serious problems.

Color vision

About 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have a problem with their color vision. If you suspect your child has such a problem or there is a family history of such problems, ask your ophthalmologist or optometrist for further information. There is no cure for this, but you can inform the child’s teacher so that he or she can use the appropriate colors.

Protecting your child’s eyes from the sun.

There is ample evidence that excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration. Because children spend a lot of time outside, it’s important to protect their eyes from harmful rays. Make sure that your child’s sunglasses are 100% absorbent to UV rays and that they are certified as medical devices by the European Union. To be sure, buy sunglasses only from optical stores. Apart from glasses, the use of a hat is also necessary.

But the sun is also our friend. Scientific studies have shown that children who spend more time outside are less likely to develop myopia. So, do not remove children from the sun but make sure they are properly protected.
For more information contact your ophthalmologist or optometrist.

This information comes from a brochure of the British College of Optometrists (www.college-optometrists.org) which is a professional, scientific and examination association for optometry in the UK. Optometrists who are members must meet the highest clinical and ethical standards and bear the professional title MCOptom or FCOptom.

Please visit the www.lookafteryoureyes.org (English) for more information and to find your nearest optometrist.

This information should not replace advice given by your ophthalmologist or optometrist.