Eye deviation in children Or strabismus affects almost five out of every hundred children. Strabismus occurs in children for various reasons. In this case, the child experiences a change in the arrangement of the eyes, which makes him unable to look at one point at the same time and unable to move the eye muscles in a coordinated manner. Eye deviation in children It may appear in children as early as 6 months of age. In this case, the child has congenital strabismus.
Strabismus is not only for children; This disease and disorder may occur even in adults for various reasons. Likely Eye deviation in children Or have you heard of strabismus with the name lochi eye. Eye deviation in children Do not confuse with laziness. Lazy eye is one of the serious consequences of eye deviation. In these cases, the child focuses on the images with the eye that is most comfortable for him and keeps it straight and uses only that eye.
While the deviated eye does not work and does not develop its functions properly. In these cases, this eye becomes a “lazy eye”. Therefore, the earlier eye deviation and lazy eye are detected, the easier the recovery.
Is eye deviation detectable in children under 2 years old?
It is normal that the eye of a baby in the first few months of life is sometimes not in a normal state and it does not show coordinated movement in the same direction; But when the child reaches 4 to 6 months, the eyes are usually smooth.
If one or both eyes still wander in (esotropia), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia) (even once), it is better to suspect that the baby has strabismus or eye deviation. At that time, instead of being afraid and stressing unnecessarily, it is better to see a doctor.
Early and accurate diagnosis of eye disorders in children can be a challenge for family doctors. vision screening, preferably before the age of four; This work is necessary to diagnose eye deviation and amblyopia or lazy eye.
Some eye disorders in children should be diagnosed at an early age to prevent vision problems and optimize treatment results. Unfortunately, effective screening for eye disorders and visual function is difficult for primary care physicians.
Young children may not want to participate in the screening process, and it is usually not pleasant for them to be in doctors’ offices; Or perhaps testing and screening devices are often not available in offices. In addition, some diagnoses are very complex. The involvement of pediatric ophthalmologists with specialized training and examination equipment is often required.
Eye professionals, including ophthalmologists, orthoptists, and optometrists, use a series of tests to see if a child’s eyes are clear and working together. The ophthalmologist will almost always put eye drops in the child’s eyes as part of the first thorough examination.
Don’t forget that if you are accurate and timely in the diagnosis stage, if the child has an eye deviation, he can use the treatments suggested by the doctors and treat this vision disorder. So take this step seriously.
What are the causes of eye deviation in children?
The appearance of strabismus in children may be affected by various reasons. A clear reason for the occurrence of this vision disorder has not yet been identified. This disorder can occur at any age and there are various reasons, either genetic or acquired. Following are some of the causes of occurrence Eye deviation in children We mention:
- Insufficient function of eye muscles
- Relationship with refractive error (myopia, astigmatism or farsightedness)
- Diseases that affect the retina, optic nerve, and cataracts.
- Eye deviation in children It can also appear intermittently after an illness, stressful situation or in some cases due to continuous use of a computer, mobile or tablet screen.
What are the symptoms of strabismus?
In order for you, as a child’s parent, to recognize this disorder earlier, the symptoms are better Eye deviation in children Know well. Most children with strabismus do not complain of eye problems or notice changes in their vision. It is possible that other than family members, the teacher or health coach at school will notice that the eyes are not straight. So we recommend that if you are in any of these roles, pay attention to these signs:
Double vision or diplopia
Some children may complain of diplopia (seeing two objects when only one is in view) or have trouble seeing objects in general. These problems can also affect reading and classroom learning skills. Younger children who are not yet talking may squint and turn or tilt their head to see more clearly.
Visual fatigue
In this case, sometimes the child feels tired in the eye area.
Difficulty reading or performing close visual activities
Teachers should be more careful that if a child has a problem in reading or recognizing patterns and close-up images, consider the possibility of eye deviation in the child and immediately inform his family to see a doctor for diagnosis.
Tilting of the head
Children with eye deviation tilt their head to coordinate their eye muscles and vision.
By knowing these symptoms, you can easily notice eye deviation in your beloved child and take the next step to treat him.
Don’t forget the best time to treat eye deviation in a child
Treatment of eye deviation in children, before the age of 8 is very important; Because it is almost at that age that definite vision is achieved. Therefore, all children suffering from eye deviation should be evaluated by a pediatric ophthalmologist. Sometimes treatment is done with non-surgical methods and has a favorable result; Sometimes this disorder must be treated with surgery.
Contrary to what was thought until recently, strabismus can be successfully corrected at any age, even in adults; But it is better to know that if strabismus is not treated in childhood, surgery cannot correct this disorder completely. The percentage of success of the eye deviation operation at this age is small; Although it can improve the patient’s appearance as well as his perception of space and visual field. to correct Eye deviation in children There are several options:
Use of glasses
One of the first treatments may be the use of glasses, which is recommended for partial deviation.
Stronger eye covering for hours a day
In this case, the lazy eye is forced to work and it is effective in treatment.
Vision or visual therapy exercises
Eye exercises can be very useful in the treatment of convergent strabismus. Convergent strabismus is a form of strabismus in which the eyes cannot focus on a near object. This type of treatment includes working with close details, reading, etc.
· Use of medicine
If using glasses and vision therapy is not enough, you can use medicine to relax the muscles.
Strabismus surgery
In cases where treatment with glasses, exercises or medication causes correction Eye deviation in children If not, you can use the surgical option. Strabismus surgery involves weakening or strengthening the eye muscles in order to change the eye level and make it parallel. There are two main types of strabismus surgery:
- Weakening: involves detaching the muscle and reattaching it away from the front of the eye to weaken the muscle.
- Strengthening (tightening): involves removing part of the muscle from the eye to tighten it further. Eye muscle repair surgery has a high success rate with very few complications. It is an outpatient procedure, does not require hospitalization, and children can return to school after a few days of rest. The most common side effects after strabismus surgery are redness, discomfort and pain, all of which are temporary.
in the process Treatment of eye deviation in childrenEye specialists work together to design a treatment plan for each child. In many cases, the child needs a combination of treatments.
Final word about eye deviation in children
The best course of action for treatment or even prevention is that Eye deviation in children recognize early; This is because the key connections between the child’s eyes and brain are formed around 8 years old. A regular eye exam is the best way to diagnose strabismus. In this article from Snap Market with reasons, signs and ways Treatment of eye deviation in children you met
Early diagnosis and treatment improves the child’s chances of having clear eyes and developing good vision and depth perception; But older children and teens (even many adults with strabismus) can still improve with treatment.
Also consider the social aspect of strabismus. Eye alignment is important for healthy self-image in adults and children. In the end you tell us what other options for Treatment of eye deviation in children do you know If you have experience of your treatment methods or timely diagnosis for your child, share with users.
