Healthy eyes and vision are a critical part of kids' development.
Do You Know?
- 80% of learning in a child’s first 12 years comes through the eyes
- Refractive errors are 2nd major cause of blindness
- Incidence of myopia in Gujarat is 13.3% (Minus power)
- Some children are labelled “LEARNING DISABLED”-what they need is an eye exam and appropriate vision correction
- From birth, your child uses vision for learning and development. Vision then guides motor and cognitive processes as your child begins to reach, grab, crawl, sit-up, play with toys, interpret facial expressions, and watch lip movements when learning how to speak.
Vision Development in Preschool and School-aged Children
Focus, tracking, depth perception, and other aspects of vision continue to develop throughout early and middle childhood. Convergence, the ability of both eyes to focus on an object simultaneously, becomes fully developed by about age seven and it is one of the reasons a child has difficulty with focusing or eye alignment and it should be treated before that age.
Hidden Signs of Vision Problems in Kids
Have you noticed any of the above mentioned signs in your child? Get your child examined right away so that problem doesn't become permanent.
Please complete this questionnaire. It will help us to know if your child needs an eye examination or not.
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What are the special tests that Tej Eye Centre offers for children?
Tej Eye Centre offers state-of-the-art technology in child vision care, with the empathy and compassion that is the hallmark of the patient care. The eye tests for children, in addition to primary eye care, include:
- Detailed systemic, ocular history analysis with chief complaint
- Vision assessment by using appropriate chart according to the age of child
- Refractive error assessment by using cycloplegic agents.
- Squint assessment with measuring deviation of angle
- Ocular motility (muscle balancing) test
- Binocular vision assessment
- Stereopsis (3D vision) test
GET OUR ANNUAL PACKAGE FOR YOUR KID’S EYE HEALTH
How screen time affects your child’s development?
Whether for educational purpose or just for fun, children are spending a good portion of their day on "screen time" — staring at the LED screens of computers, tablets, smartphones and other digital devices.
Children who spend multiple hours staring at digital devices are at risk of developing computer vision syndrome.
TEJ EYE CENTER MOBILE APP
Extended exposure to mobile or laptop screens can cause an increase in minus power in children. Tej eye center has come up with a Screen time control app for parents where they can shut down the screen or mobile on pre-decided time.
WHY IS REGULAR VISION SCREENING SO IMPORTANT IN CHIILDREN ?
Early eye exams are important because children need the following visual skills that are essential for optimal learning.
Excellent visual acuity at all distances
Accurate and comfortable eye teaming skills
Accurate eye movement skills
Accurate and comfortable focusing skills
When should kids get an eye exam?
Tej eye center vision screening programme
Many vision problems go undetected by parents, teachers and the children themselves without a formal vision assessment. Many eye problems cause no pain or discomfort so again go unrecognized. Children with a family history of vision problems & premature births - greater risk for vision problems. children adjust to poor eyesight by sitting close to the blackboard, holding books close to their eyes, avoid work that needs visual concentration like coloring, puzzles etc.
Tej eye center is doing multiple screening programmes in private and government schools to identify the vision problems among the childrens. Activities done by tej eye center are as;
- Training of school teachers and parents
- Vision screening of school children and other staff
- Detection and treatment of eye problems
- Prescription of glasses
- Provision of glasses to students of low socioeconomic strata
- Anterior segment assessment to rule out pathology
- Detail Retina evaluation
- Vision therapy as per the diagnosis
- Recommendation for best optical solution as per the conditions
Common Eye Problems
Several eye conditions can affect kids. Most are detected by a vision screening using an acuity chart during the preschool years.
- Refractive errorsmean that the shape of the eye doesn't refract (bend) light properly, so images appear blurred. Refractive errors also can cause amblyopia. Nearsightedness is the most common refractive error in school-age children; others include farsightedness and astigmatism:
- Nearsightedness is poor distance vision (also called myopia), which is usually treated with glasses or contacts.
- Farsightedness (also called hyperopia), which is usually treated with glasses or contacts.
- Astigmatism is an imperfect curvature of the front surface of the eye, which is usually treated with glasses if it causes blurred vision or discomfort.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE IDEAL SPECTACLE FOR MY KIDS?
Spectacle Frames:
- Plastic frames, especially round or oval in size which provide a large field of vision, are best for all children as they are in light weight.
- If older kids wear metal frames, make sure they have spring hinges, which are more durable.
- An elastic strap attached to the glasses will help keep them in place for active toddlers.
Spectacle Lenses:
- Kids with severe eye problems may need special lenses called high-index lenses, which are thinner and lighter than plastic lenses.
- Polycarbonate lenses are best for all kids, especially those who play sports. Polycarbonate is a tough, shatterproof, clear thermoplastic used to make thin, light lenses.
Amblyopia
- ("lazy eye") is poor vision in an eye that may appear to be normal. Two common causes are crossed eyes and a difference in the refractive error between the two eyes. If untreated, amblyopia can cause irreversible visual loss in the affected eye. (By then, the brain's "programming" will ignore signals from that eye.) Amblyopia is best treated as early as possible, ideally before a child is 8 years old. It can be treated by prescribing an eye glasses and patching therapy or vision therapy
Strabismus or squinting of the eye
- It is a misalignment of the eyes. they may turn in, out, up, or down. It can occur either due to refractive errors, any congenital pathological condition, or weakness of eye muscles. Risk Factors for squint may be a family history, prematurity or low birth weight or may be cerebral palsy. If the same eye is chronically misaligned, amblyopia may also develop in that eye. With early detection, vision can be restored by patching the properly aligned eye, which forces the misaligned one to work. Some of the time squint can be corrected with spectacle glasses or vision therapy. At last Surgery also may help the eyes to align.
Excessive Blinking in Children
Parents often wonder if they should worry about their child’s excessive blinking. While this symptom is not typically worrisome, it’s important to see your pediatrician or ophthalmologist if your child blinks a lot or has other concerning symptoms.
What Causes Excessive Blinking in Children?
A large study of children younger than 16 showed four common causes of excessive blinking:
Problems with the cornea at the front of the eye
These include dry eye, ingrown eyelash, a foreign object in the eye or under the eyelid, corneal abrasion (scratch or scrape at front of eye), eye allergies, or conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Uncorrected refractive errors
The need for glasses or an updated glasses prescription to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism.
Habitual tics (involuntary repetitive body movements).
A common physical tic is blinking. Tics are usually caused by stress/anxiety, fatigue or boredom. In most cases, tics are harmless, and children outgrow them.
Misaligned or crossed eyes (strabismus).
Strabismus is when the eyes are not lined up correctly and point in different directions.
Childhood Tearing:
- Epiphora is the term for excessive tearing. Childhood epiphora is often noted soon after birth, but can be acquired later. When noted during infancy, it is usually due to blockage of the tear drainage system. This type of tearing often improves spontaneously by 6-12 months of age. Medical treatment includes tear sac massage and eye drops, but if tearing persists, surgical probing of the drainage system may be required.
Nystagmus:
- Nystagmus is an involuntary, rhythmic oscillation of the eyes. The eye movements can be side-to-side, up and down, or rotary. Nystagmus may be present at birth or acquired later in life. It may result from abnormal binocular fixation early in life. It also may accompany a number of eye disorders and neurological disorders.
Pediatric Ptosis (drooping eyelid):
- Ptosis, or drooping of the upper eyelid, occurs in both children and adults. Children can be born with ptosis (congenital) or acquire it during childhood. It is caused by weakness in the muscle that elevates the eyelid. A droopy eyelid can block light passing to the retina in the back of the eye and/or create significant astigmatism that produces a blurry image in the affected eye. These situations cause lazy eye (amblyopia) and, if untreated, can result in permanent loss of vision. Also, children may develop a chin-up head position due to the droopy eyelid. If the ptosis is significant, surgical correction may be necessary.
Pediatric Glaucoma:
- Glaucoma is a condition that is associated with high pressure within the eye. This pressure can damage the optic nerve, which is critical for vision, resulting in permanent vision loss. Pediatric glaucoma is a rare condition that can present in the newborn or during childhood. Signs and symptoms of pediatric glaucoma include cloudy cornea, tearing, frequent blinking, light sensitivity, and redness of the eye.
Developmental Abnormalities:
- During development of the fetus, abnormalities in the visual system can occur. Some developmental abnormalities include coloboma, microphthalmia (small eye), and optic nerve hypoplasia. These abnormalities often result in vision loss.
Vision therapy for children: When glasses aren't enough
Vision therapy -- a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain -- is a highly effective non-surgical treatment for many common visual problems such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision, convergence insufficiency and some reading and learning disabilities.
Aim is to improve overall vision by strengthening skills such as tracking (eye movement), teaming (eye coordination) and focusing.
The program of exercises is customized for each patient, and can be done in the office or at home — or, ideally, in both settings.
What is involved in a Tej Eye Vision Therapy program?
- A progressive program of vision "exercises" or procedures;
- performed under doctor supervision;
- individualized to fit the visual needs of each patient;
- generally conducted in-office, in once or twice weekly sessions of 30 minutes to an hour;
- occasionally supplemented with procedures done at home between office visits ("home reinforcement" or "homework");
- depending on the case, the procedures are prescribed to:
- help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and abilities;
- improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency;
- change how a patient processes or interprets visual information.
