Pediatric Eye Care

Expert Pediatric Eye Care at Al-Noor Eye Hospital

Our dedicated pediatric department offers specialized eye care for children, utilizing the latest technology and techniques to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. Our compassionate team focuses on your child’s comfort and well-being, guiding you through every step of the process. We provide accessible and affordable care, ensuring your child receives the best possible eye treatment.

Overview

Children’s eye care is different from adult eye care. Over the years, the Ophthalmology Department at Al Noor Eye Hospital has become a leading center for treating children’s eye conditions. We provide top-notch medical and surgical care for various congenital (present at birth) and acquired (developed later) eye diseases in children. Our department also offers specialized treatment for retinopathy of prematurity, a serious eye disease that can cause blindness in premature babies.

Children might not always tell you if they’re having trouble seeing with one or both eyes. Sometimes the only signs are poor performance in school or needing to sit very close to the blackboard. That’s why regular eye checkups are essential from the time children start school and throughout their school years. The most common eye problems in children are refractive errors (such as needing glasses), squint (misaligned eyes), and amblyopia (lazy eye).

We are committed to helping those in need and often provide services at our own expense out of a sense of moral and social responsibility. We also treat adult patients with squint and double vision effectively.

Why Is a Separate Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic Necessary?

A dedicated Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic is essential because children’s eye conditions are different from those that affect adults, requiring specialized treatment approaches. Pediatric eye specialists undergo unique training to diagnose and treat these conditions effectively.

Children often don’t realize they have an eye problem or may not know how to express it. Sometimes, parents may not take their complaints seriously, thinking the child is seeking attention. Additionally, many parents mistakenly believe that an eye exam isn’t necessary until a child can read. However, pediatric ophthalmologists are trained to conduct thorough eye exams, even without the child’s input, to identify any issues or refractive errors.

A child should have an eye checkup if any of the following symptoms are present:

Crossed eyes
Holding objects very close to their eyes
Difficulty seeing the blackboard at school
Things appearing blurry or distorted
Itching, burning, or a scratchy sensation in the eyes
Eye injury
If one or both parents wear glasses

A specialized clinic ensures that children receive the focused care they need to maintain healthy vision.

Guide to Understanding Vision Problems in Young Children

Visual Acuity

Visual acuity refers to how clearly a child sees, measured at a distance of 20 feet (6 meters). “20/20 vision” means a child can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at the same distance. A child with 20/100 vision must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet. Visual acuity improves as a child grows and typically reaches adult levels by age 6-7 years. By age 4-5 years, visual acuity of 20/20 to 20/40 is expected.

Refractive Error

Refractive error occurs when the shape or size of the eyeball causes images to be out of focus on the retina, leading to blurred vision. Mild refractive errors may not need correction in young children since their visual demands are low. However, high refractive errors can cause discomfort and may lead to conditions like strabismus (misaligned eyes) or amblyopia (lazy eye). In such cases, glasses or sometimes contact lenses are needed.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, occurs when the eyeball is shorter than normal, making it hard to see objects up close. Most children have mild hyperopia and can see clearly at all distances, but severe cases can cause fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, and sometimes crossed eyes.

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is when distant objects appear blurred while close objects are clear. It happens when the eyeball is longer than average. Children born prematurely or with a family history of severe myopia are more likely to develop it early. Children with myopia may hold objects very close to their eyes or move closer to see things clearly.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism causes objects to appear distorted or blurred at all distances. It usually occurs when the cornea is more oval-shaped than round. Astigmatism often accompanies farsightedness or nearsightedness. Children with significant astigmatism may tilt their heads to see objects clearly and might experience headaches or eyestrain during tasks that require focus.

Strabismus

Strabismus is when the eyes do not align properly, with one or both eyes turning in, out, up, or down. This misalignment can be constant or occasional and may lead to double vision or suppression of the misaligned eye. This can affect depth perception, eye-hand coordination, and motor skills. Common signs include:

Covering one eye or turning the head when looking at objects
Tripping over or bumping into things
Difficulty holding a pencil or coloring within the lines
Trouble with construction toys like Lego
Reduced attention during visual tasks

Strabismus can be treated with glasses, visual exercises, or surgery.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Amblyopia is the incomplete development of vision in one or both eyes, often due to uncorrected refractive error or strabismus in early childhood. It results in reduced vision even with corrective lenses. If left untreated, amblyopia can lead to functional blindness in the affected eye. Treatment often involves using an eye patch or eye drops to temporarily block vision in the stronger eye, encouraging use of the weaker eye. Early treatment is crucial, as therapies are less effective after age 9.

Vergence Disorder

Vergence disorders involve problems with the eyes’ ability to turn inward (convergence) or outward (divergence) when focusing on objects. Convergence insufficiency is the most common vergence disorder. Symptoms include blurred or double vision, eyestrain, headaches, and difficulty concentrating, especially while reading. These disorders can be treated with glasses and/or visual exercises.

Accommodation Disorder

Accommodation disorders affect the eye’s ability to change focus from distant to near objects automatically. Symptoms include blurred vision, eyestrain, headaches, fatigue, and trouble concentrating. These conditions can also be treated with glasses or visual exercises.

Color Vision Deficiency

Color vision deficiency is a congenital condition that makes it difficult to distinguish certain colors, such as red and green or blue and purple. It affects 8% of males and less than 1% of females and is present from birth. This condition can interfere with learning in school, as many materials rely on color perception. Unfortunately, there is no cure for color vision deficiency.

Eye Health Abnormalities

Eye health issues in children are uncommon but can result from injuries or hereditary/congenital conditions. Treatment focuses on improving the eye condition and maximizing vision and visual development.