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Refractive Errors In Children

Refractive errors are one of the most common eye conditions found in children. Refractive errors are often considered a minor eye-related issue. However, it is important not to let it take a backseat as it can affect vision. Impaired vision can, in turn, affect your child’s performance in school and social activities.

What are refractive errors?

In order for anybody to see clearly, the light that enters the eye must precisely focus on the retina, the portion at the back of the eyes that are composed of light-sensitive cells. The two parts of the eyes, lens and cornea, play an important role in focusing light rays on the retina. The presence of a refractive error is felt when the light does not precisely focus on the retina.

Refractive errors in children

Types of refractive errors found in children

Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a condition where objects located in a distance appear blurry or out of focus. Myopia is the most common type of refractive error found in children. Although blurry-distant-vision is the primary symptom of myopia, children are too young or unaware to discern it or complain about it.

Secondary symptoms may indicate the presence of refractive error in your child. Some of the common secondary symptoms to watch out for include sitting too close to the TV or holding books up close in the face. Take notice if your child suddenly loses interest in sports that require good distant vision.

In case you observe these symptoms in your child, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible. If you are looking for an eye hospital in Kolkata, visit Disha Eye Hospitals as they have a team of the best paediatric eye doctors, who would carry out a proper diagnosis of your child’s refractive error.

Hyperopia                 

Hyperopia, or also known as farsightedness, is when objects located close by appearing blurry or out of focus. This refractive error is very common in children. Some of the common symptoms of hyperopia in children are eye tiredness, eye strain, and headaches. A few external signs of hyperopia that you might notice in your child include difficulty in reading, eye rubbing, and squinting.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is the blurriness of both close and distant vision. In many cases, astigmatism begins in early childhood; the refractive error can develop in adulthood as well. Persisting eye fatigue (tiredness), eye strain, and headaches are some of the common symptoms of astigmatism that your child may experience.

Causes of refractive errors

Just like the symptoms, causes of refractive errors vary. Myopia commonly occurs when the eye’s refractive power is too strong. A longer length of the eyeball axis is another important cause of myopia.

Hyperopia can occur when the length of the eyeball axis is short. The refractive error can also occur when the eye has a weak refractive power. Astigmatism often occurs due to abnormal curvature of the cornea. In many cases, refractive error is inherited, meaning if you or your spouse have a refractive error, your child is likely to develop the condition.

Treatment of refractive errors

Paediatric eye doctors usually prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses in order to temporarily correct refractive errors in children. Prescription eyeglasses are often the preferred refractive error correction option for younger children. This is because they are safer as compared to prescription contact lenses.

Take help from one of Disha’s paediatric eye doctors

Choose the best eye specialists in Kolkata from the paediatric eye care department, who can help you in selecting the right treatment option for your child. Learn more about the hospital at  http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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Cataracts In Babies And Children: What To Know

When it comes to cataract, the eye condition is generally thought to be associated with older age. However, it could very well affect infants and children. Therefore, it is important to take your child to regular eye checkups so that the presence of early symptoms is detected. This preventive measure will prove beneficial in your child’s early treatment.

1) Causes of cataract in infants and children

There are several reasons that can cause the unborn baby to develop cataract during the mother’s pregnancy period. One of the common causes being the family history of the eye condition. If the father or the mother-to-be has a cataract, the odds are high that the baby too will develop it.

The baby can also develop a cataract if the mother contracts an infection during pregnancy, such as measles, influenza, herpes zoster, syphilis, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus, or chickenpox, visit https://suriaplasticsurgery.com/valtrex-valacyclovir/. Chromosomal problems like Down syndrome might also cause congenital cataract.

In young children, cataract could occur due to factors such as eye injury, radiation treatment, diabetes, and the use of steroids.

2) Identifying cataract symptoms in your child

As mentioned above, children may not be aware of problems in their eyes until they experience difficulties in seeing properly. In some cases, it’s possible to notice cataracts in children. Cataracts look like grey spots in the eyes’ lens; they can also look like a reflection inside the pupil.

However, in many cases, cataracts may not be visible. If your child is experiencing vision problems due to cataract, they may face difficulty in recognising certain shapes, colours, or experience vision decline in dimly-lit areas. Other signs of cataract to look out for in your child is the ability to discern certain things from a close distance, in order to see properly. You would know it is difficult for them if they start rubbing their eyes, or blink too often.

If you happen to be in Kolkata, visit Disha Eye Hospitals. Disha has a team of expert eye doctors, including paediatric eye care specialists, who would help in detecting cataract right away, or any other eye conditions that may arise. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

3) Treatment

If your child has a mild form of cataract which doesn’t affect their vision, it may not need to be removed. However, if the eye condition is hindering vision and interfering with your child’s day to day life, it is advisable to get it treated. Many parents assume that medicines or glasses could cure cataract but at present, the only treatment for cataracts is surgery; the surgeon replaces the clouded lens with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens. Glasses can be used after the surgery for a clear vision.

Wish to know about Cataract surgeries in Kolkata? Consult the eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals

Consult one of Disha’s paediatric eye doctors to know whether cataract surgery is the right treatment option for your child (in case they have been diagnosed with the said condition).

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Lazy Eye: Causes And Symptoms

Lazy eye is one of the most common vision-related condition found in children. Also known as amblyopia, this eye condition occurs when the vision in one of the eyes does not develop as it normally should.

As time passes, the brain begins to ignore the impaired visual signals from the affected eye, and this pattern results in permanent vision loss in the weaker eye. If your child complains of blurry vision in one eye, consult an eye doctor at the soonest, as the symptom may signal the onset of lazy eye.

Visit Disha Eye Hospitals (one of the top eye hospitals in Kolkata), and quickly book an appointment with one of the best eye specialists at Disha. After diagnosing the cause, they will begin the correct treatment without delay. With advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures at affordable costs, Disha Eye Hospitals mark patients as their top priority.  Book an appointment online choosing an eye specialist at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/

Let’s discuss the causes of lazy eye

There are several factors that could cause lazy eye. Some of them being:

1. Hyperopia or astigmatism in one eye

In several cases of lazy eye, children develop either hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism in one eye. Both types of refraction errors cause blurriness of vision. When the brain receives images from both eyes, it starts ignoring the distorted one. Any abnormality in either the axial length or the cornea and crystalline lens of the eyes leads to the inception of a refractive error

2. Strabismus

Another chief cause of lazy eye is strabismus. This condition arises when the eyes do not align properly. Depending on the severity of the condition, either one or both eyes may be looking at different directions, and failing to coordinate. Tumor and a neurological problem with the eye muscles are the two elements that could cause strabismus

3. Obstruction of light entering the eye

Lazy eye could also occur as a result of light obstruction caused by a small amount of blood leakage, scarring, or cataract. For correct vision, it is crucial for the light entering the lens to completely be in contact with the retina

Symptoms of lazy eye

Some of the common symptoms of lazy eye include:

  • Double vision – seeing double image of the same object
  • Poor depth perception – impairment in the ability to judge the distance of an object
  • Squinting one eye (the affected one) to compensate for vision blurriness
  • Tilting head in order to see properly and makeup for the imbalance in vision

Treatment of lazy eye

The treatment of lazy eye starts by correcting the underlying vision problem such as refractive error and strabismus. If your child is diagnosed with cataract, the eye doctor will first treat the eye condition at hand before proceeding with the lazy eye treatment. The residents of Kolkata need not worry about treatment procedures because Disha Eye hospitals provide amazingly advanced cataract surgery at an affordable cost. The team of eye surgeons use the latest tools and techniques of cataract surgery to ensure quick recovery. Know more about the procedure of cataract surgeries & the cost of surgeries at Disha Eye Hospitals here http://www.dishaeye.org/cataract

The objective of lazy eye treatment is to force the weak eye to work harder in order to develop proper vision over a period of time. In mild lazy eye cases, eye doctors prescribe an eye drop which is to be used on the healthy eye. For serious cases, children are required to wear a patch on the healthy eye to stimulate vision development in the weak eye.

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Tips On Avoiding Toy-Related Injuries

There’s no denying that toys are a part and parcel of children’s lives. However, as parents you need to be aware of the fact that there are certain toys that can also put your kids at risk of eye injuries. Thus, as a concerned parent you need to carefully choose toys for your kids. Over here we discuss a few important tips you need to consider while buying toys and how to significantly lower the risk of eye injuries while your kids are playing with toys.

1) Don’t buy toys that have jagged edges

If there’s one type of toy you need to ensure your kids do not play with, it’s the one with jagged and protruding edges. Common toys that have sharp edges include action figures, building blocks (construction toys), and model aircraft.

Upon accidental contact with the eyes, jagged toys can scratch the cornea and cause corneal abrasion. The injury can, in turn, lead to redness in the eyes, and  cause significant discomfort and hypersensitivity to light. If not properly treated, corneal abrasion increases the risk of eye infections.

Tips on avoiding toy-related injuries

If your kid meets with an accidental eye injury, consult immediately with an eye doctor to lower the risk of eye infections.  At Disha Eye Hospital,  our eye care team comprises of the best eye doctors in Kolkata who will help you and your kid with the right treatment.

2) Teach your kids to organise their toys

One simple and effective way to significantly lower the risk of toy-related eye injuries is to teach your kids to properly organise their toys in a safe area after they are done playing with them.

Create a zone for your kids where they can store their favourite toys. A toy organiser is a great furniture for toy storage. Make it an everyday routine for your kids to keep their toys in the toy organiser.

3) Read age recommendation labels before you buy new toys

Just like the way you check the nutritional value of the food items you buy for your children, it’s important to read the age recommendation label when shopping for new toys for your kids. Often, toy manufacturers design toys for specific age groups of children. Therefore, following the age recommendation is a good safety precaution to take.

Age recommendation labels are often printed on the front part of the toy packaging. Try searching at the back side of the bottom if you don’t find the label in the packaging’s front part.

4) Teach your kids to wear protective eyeglasses

Creative toys such as remote-controlled cars and planes are designed for the outdoors. Whenever your kids are outside playing with these toys, make sure they wear a pair of safety eyeglasses.

5) Stay with them when they are playing with their hobby kits

Hobby kits such as chemistry sets have flammable substances that can catch fire and cause serious eye and skin injuries. Thus, it’s important to ensure that your kids aren’t unattended while playing with their hobby kits.

Did your kid hurt his/her eye while playing?

If yes, then immediately visit the nearest eye hospital. If you stay in West Bengal, then find the nearest Disha Eye Hospital here http://www.dishaeye.org/contact-us

We provide high-quality eye care services through advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Learn more about our eye care services at http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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Goopy Eyes In Children: Causes And Treatment

You may observe a green or yellow discharge from your eyes on some days after waking up in the morning. The condition is defined as goopy eyes, or simply called eye discharge. The discharge could either have a liquid-like or a crusty consistency. Although eye discharge isn’t serious, it often acts as a signal of the presence of an infection. It is important to seek medical help, especially if your little ones are suffering from it. Delaying consultation could run the risk of complications such as conjunctivitis, dry eyes, blocked tear duct and corneal ulcer.

Goopy eyes in children: Causes and treatment

Causes of goopy eyes in children:

There are several eye conditions that produce eye discharge as signs of a primary symptom in children. Some of these eye conditions include:

  • Conjunctivitis

It’s common for both adults and children to experience eye discharge as a symptom of conjunctivitis. There are two types of conjunctivitis; bacterial and viral, the former generates a sticky and thick discharge, whereas the latter causes a watery discharge.

In most cases, eye discharge occurs in conjunction with other symptoms of the eye condition, including a burning sensation in the eyes, itchiness, and bloodshot appearances.

  • Blocked tear duct

The blocked tear duct is another eye condition causing eye discharge as a symptom in children. In most cases, the tear ducts do not develop fully. As such, tears do not drain as they normally should.

Tumour growth anywhere in the tear drainage system can lead to a blockage. Another reason for the tear duct to face obstruction is scarring of the drainage system. Inflammation of the tear drainage system could also lead to tear duct blockage.

  • Gonorrhoea

Infants who contract gonorrhoea from their mothers can develop eye discharges. Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). If left untreated, the infection can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Treatment of goopy eyes

In order to treat eye discharge in children, it is important to address the underlying cause with a suitable chart of treatment. Eye infection is the most common cause of eye discharge in children. One of the pediatric eye care specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals can guide you in getting a thorough diagnosis of the eye infection, and prescribe necessary medicines such as ointments, antiviral eye drops and antibiotics. In case of an eye allergy, the doctor may prescribe decongestants and antihistamine eye drops.

Here are some simple solutions to follow at home if eye discharges are found in children:

  • If your child’s eyelids are stuck together, gently wipe the discharge with a warm compress
  • In the case of conjunctivitis, instruct your child to avoid touching the infected eye
  • If your child has an eye allergy, make sure to keep the irritable elements away.
  • Avoid giving over the counter (OTC) eye medicines that are not prescribed by an eye doctor

Visit Disha Eye Hospitals for quality eye care

Disha Eye Hospitals offer advanced diagnostics and treatment for different types of eye complications. As a leading eye hospital group, the team of doctors consists of the best retina specialists in Kolkata. Additionally, the hospital offers treatment for paediatric eye conditions like squint. Consult one of the best eye specialists in Kolkata at Disha and get your child’s symptoms checked at your closest centre. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.