Children are often at a higher risk for eye injuries for several reasons. They are less likely to follow safety precautions when playing with potentially dangerous objects. Also, they have softer eyeballs, which makes them more susceptible to bruising and damage. As a result, it is important for you as a parent to take precautions to help prevent eye injuries in your children. Here are some useful insights on eye injuries in children that you might find useful:
1. Common causes of eye injuries in children:
Children often lack the experience and coordination to safely use sharp tools or participate in activities that could potentially lead to an injury. Also, they often do not understand the importance of wearing protective eyewear when engaging in activities that could lead to an injury. Some of the most eye injuries occur during sports. Hockey, basketball and archery are responsible for sports-related eye injuries. Playing with toys with sharp edges, handling chemicals (household cleaners and room fresheners), fingernails can also lead to eye injuries.
2. Common eye injuries in children:
Some of the common types of eye injuries in children:
- Corneal abrasion: It is a scratch on the surface of the eye. This can happen if a child is hit in the eye with a toy or if he or she rubs the eye too hard. Symptoms of a corneal abrasion include pain, redness, tearing and light sensitivity. If not treated properly, a corneal abrasion can lead to an infection.
- Eyelid lacerations: Eyelid lacerations are often caused by foreign objects such as fingers, toys or tree branches. Treatment for an eyelid laceration will depend on the severity of the injury.
- Hyphema: Hyphema occurs when blood collects in the space between the iris and the cornea. It can cause vision problems and can be painful. The symptoms of hyphema include eye pain, light sensitivity and blurry or distorted vision.
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage: It occurs when a blood vessel in the eye breaks and bleeds into the space between the conjunctiva and the sclera, the white of the eye. The conjunctiva is a thin, clear membrane that covers the front of the eye. The sclera is the white outer layer that protects the inner structures of the eye.
3. Tips to prevent eye injuries:
Here are some tips to help prevent eye injuries in children:
- Keep sharp objects out of reach: Knives, scissors and other sharp objects can cause serious eye injuries if they are mishandled. They must be kept away from children’s reach.
- Make sure children use appropriate eye protection: When participating in sports or other activities where there is a risk of being hit in the face, children should be made to wear protective eyewear.
- Children should not have access to chemicals: Household cleaners and other chemicals can cause serious eye irritation if they come into contact with the eyes. Be sure to keep all chemicals properly labelled and out of reach of children.
4.
When to see an eye doctor?
When it comes to eye injuries in children, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even seemingly minor injuries can lead to serious complications if they are not treated promptly. Here are some signs that indicate your child’s eye injury is an emergency:
- There is a foreign object embedded in the eye
- The pupil is enlarged or not reacting to light
- There is severe pain or swelling
- There is bleeding from the eye
- There is a change in vision
Looking for the best paediatric ophthalmologist in Kolkata?
If you live in Kolkata and searching the internet with the phrases such as “paediatric eye doctor near me” or “paediatric ophthalmologist near me”, visit Disha Eye Hospitals. We have a dedicated paediatric ophthalmology unit that is highly specialised and we have an advanced eye care facility offering expert diagnosis and treatment for ophthalmic problems in children. Our paediatric ophthalmologists deal with various diseases such as paediatric cataracts, paediatric strabismus, adult strabismus, amblyopia, retinopathy of prematurity and paediatric glaucoma. Find the nearest branch and book an appointment.