Pediatric Ophthalmology

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Pediatric Ophthalmologist: Get the Best Eye Doctor for Your Kid in Delhi

Pediatric ophthalmology is a specialized medical field that focuses on the eye health and vision care of infants, children, and adolescents. Padiatric ophthalmologist diagnoses, treats, and manages pediatric eye problems.

They focus on child below 15 years age, who are in developing years of life, vision during period not only affect them personally but also have impact on their education and social upliftment.

When it comes to your child's vision health, choosing the right eye doctor is crucial. Your child's eyes are precious, and ensuring they receive the best possible care is essential for their overall well-being.

Get the Best Eye Doctor for Your Kid

Consult now with the specialist of Save Sight Centre:

Doctor's Name Specialization OPD Days Timings
Dr. Amit Singhal Pediatric Ophthalmology, Squint & Cataract 2nd and 4th Saturday of Every Month 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM

Common Eye Problems in Children

Eye problems in children can be a source of concern for parents, but understanding their causes and preventive measures can help ensure your child's eye health. From common issues like refractive errors to more serious conditions, being informed is key to protecting your child's vision.

  • Refractive Errors: Children often have myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. When the eye shape prevents light from concentrating on the retina, it results to blurry results. The main causes may include genetics, environment, and eye damage.

Prevention: Refraction problems can be detected early with regular eye exams. To lower myopia risk, encourage your child to take screen time breaks, use correct lighting when reading or studying, and play outside.

  • Amblyopia (Lazy Eye): Amblyopia reduces vision in the weaker eye when one eye is much better. Strabismus, cataracts, and uneven refractive defects can cause it in early development.

Prevention: Preventing persistent vision loss requires early detection and treatment. Your youngster needs regular eye exams and prompt amblyopia treatment. Vision treatment or patching the stronger eye helps strengthen the weaker eye.

  • Strabismus (Crossed Eyes): In strabismus, the eyes point in various directions. It can develop from birth or later in infancy due to eye muscle control difficulties. Untreated strabismus can cause double vision, eye strain, and amblyopia.

Prevention: Preventing strabismus is difficult, but early management can reduce vision difficulties. If your child frequently squints or tilts their head, see an eye doctor.

  • Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin layer covering the white of the eye, the conjunctiva. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, smoking, or chlorine. Eyelid redness, irritation, discharge, and crusting are symptoms.

Prevention: Encourage frequent handwashing and not touching the eyes to prevent conjunctivitis. Identify and reduce allergens for your child with allergic conjunctivitis.

Common Eye Problem In Children

Signs Your Child Needs to See an Eye Doctor

The below are the situation when you would know that it’s time to bring your child to see an eye doctor.

Behavioural Signs of Vision Issues
  • Frequent squinting may indicate vision difficulties in children.
  • Sitting too close to screens on TVs or holding books near the face may indicate vision difficulties.
  • Frequent eye rubbing may suggest ocular strain or pain, however occasional rubbing is typical.
  • Frequent head tilts may indicate that your child needs to change their visual angle.
  • Eye strain can cause frequent headaches, particularly after reading or watching TV.
  • Vision issues may cause difficulties in reading, attention, and academics in the school.
Signs Your Child Needs to See an Eye Doctor
Monitoring Your Child's Vision at Home
  • Ensure your child's eyes are aligned properly and not turning inwards or outwards.
  • Check if your youngster holds books too close or far.
  • Observe if your youngster establishes or avoids eye contact.
  • Keep a record of complaints regarding fuzzy vision, double vision, or difficulties seeing the board in school.
  • Signs of discomfort, such as redness or watering, may suggest underlying concerns.
When to Schedule an Eye Doctor Visit

- Regular annual eye exams are recommended to detect concerns early, even if none are obvious.

- Schedule an appointment if you see any of the behavioral symptoms described.

- Ensure your child receives an eye test before school to address potential learning concerns.

- If there is a family history of eye issues, more frequent check-ups may be essential.

- Emergency medical attention is necessary for children with eye injuries to prevent long-term harm.

When to Schedule an Eye Doctor Visit

Nutrition and Eye Health for Kids

The importance of nutrition in maintaining and improving your child's vision. Here are some key points to consider.

Nutrition and Eye Health for Kids Important Nutrients for Healthy Vision
  • Vitamin A: Essential for good vision and helps protect the cornea. A deficiency can lead to night blindness.
  • Vitamin C: An antioxidant that helps protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals.
  • Vitamin E: Another antioxidant that helps keep the cells of the eyes healthy.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Important for visual development and retinal function.
  • Zinc: Helps transport Vitamin A from the liver to the retina, making it essential for good night vision.
  • Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Found in high concentrations in the retina and help protect the eyes from harmful light.
Child-friendly foods to improve Eye health
  • Carrots and Sweet Potatoes: Rich in Vitamin A and beta-carotene, they are great for maintaining good vision.
  • Citrus Fruits and Berries: High in Vitamin C, which helps protect the eyes from damage.
  • Nuts and Seeds: Packed with Vitamin E, which supports eye health.
  • Fish: Salmon, mackerel, and other fatty fish are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Leafy Greens: Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens contain lutein and zeaxanthin.
  • Eggs: Contain Vitamin A, lutein, and zinc, making them a great food for eye health.

Vision Therapy for Children

Children's vision therapy improves vision skills and corrects vision issues. I'm an eye doctor, so let me explain vision therapy and its uses. Vision therapy strengthens the eyes through exercises. Though similar to physical therapy, it targets the eyes and brain. The goal is to increase eye coordination and brain visual processing.


Conditions Treated by Vision Therapy

Vision therapy can effectively treat a variety of visual conditions in children, including:

  • Amblyopia (Lazy Eye): Strengthens the weaker eye and improves coordination between both eyes.
  • Strabismus (Crossed Eyes): Helps align the eyes and improve binocular vision.
  • Convergence Insufficiency: Improves the ability to focus on close objects and reduces eye strain.
  • Eye Movement Disorders: Enhances the ability to track and follow moving objects smoothly.
  • Focusing Issues: Improves the ability to switch focus between near and distant objects efficiently.
  • Visual Processing Disorders: Enhances the brain's ability to interpret and understand visual information, benefiting academic performance and daily activities.

FAQs

Q.1 What is a pediatric eye doctor?

Ans: A pediatric eye doctor, or ophthalmologist, diagnoses and treats children's eye diseases. They specialize in pediatric eye health.

Q.2 Can a pediatrician treat the eye?

Ans: Pediatricians can treat basic health issues, but they may not be trained to treat complex eye diseases. For eye concerns, see a pediatric ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Q.3 Which doctor is best for eyes?

Ans: The optometrist can address typical eye health issues. Pediatric ophthalmologists are ideal for complex eye diseases in youngsters.

Q.4 What does a child's eye test involve?

Ans: A child's eye test typically includes checking visual acuity, eye alignment, eye movement, and examining the overall health of the eyes. This can be done through simple tests like reading an eye chart or more specialized exams for children unable to read.

Q.5 What is Paediatric Orthoptics?

Ans: Pediatric orthoptics is a branch of eye care that focuses on diagnosing and treating eye movement disorders and conditions like strabismus (crossed or misaligned eyes). Orthoptists are specialists who work with pediatric ophthalmologists to help manage these issues.

Q.6 What are the signs of vision loss?

Ans: Signs of vision loss in children may include squinting, frequent eye rubbing, holding objects very close or far away to see them, unusual eye movements, sensitivity to light, and complaints of blurred or double vision. If you notice these signs, consult a pediatric eye specialist promptly.