Information for parents/Caregivers

Importance of childhood vision

There are 1.5 million children blind worldwide, two third of which live in developing countries. In Nepal 6 children in every 10000 children are blind.Most of the eye diseases in children can be prevented or treated. The most important thing in children is the timely detection of eye diseases. There are many diseases, if it is detected in early age can be completely cured.

Vision Screening in Children

When to do the vision screening?

Think of vision screening like vaccinations!

Different screening at different developmental/age levels.

Every child should undergo vision screening as below:

• First screening 45 days to 2 months.

• Second screening at the age of 6 month to 1 year

• Then after at the age of 3 to 4 years.

• After this every year for 7 to 8 years

If the child develop any of the eye signs like: red eye, squinting eye, white dot on the black part of eye, head tilt, then consult eye doctor immediately.

If the child has excessive blinking or watches TV from very near distance, then consult eye doctor immediately.

If your child is born prematurely or if any problem during or soon after birth consult eye doctor within one month of age.

Dr Srijana Adhikari

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Strabismus

What is strabismus or squint or "Tedho Ankha"

There are many different types of strabismus. Strabismus is most commonly described by the direction of the eye misalignment. Esotropia is inward turning of the eyes.Exotropia is the term used to describe outward turning of the eyes.Hypertropia is an abnormal eye higher than the normal eye. Hypotropia is when the abnormal eye is lower than the normal eye.

What causes strabismus

Most strabismus is the result of an abnormality of the neuromuscular (including brain) control of eye movement. Our understanding of these control centers in the brain remains incomplete. Less commonly, a problem with the actual eye muscle may cause strabismus.

Eye misalignment can cause lazy eye in children. Also, an eye that sees poorly may become misaligned.

Who develops strabismus as a child

Strabismus often occurs in children who are otherwise completely normal. However, disorders that affect the brain such as cerebral palsy Down's syndrome , hydrocephalus and brain tumor are more likely to develop strabismus.

Treatment of strabismus

The goal of strabismus treatment is to improve eye alignment which allows for the eyes to better work together (binocular vision). Treatment may involve eye glasses, eye exercises, prism, and/ or eye muscle surgery.

Squint can be corrected at any age!!

Information video on children's eye health

http://imagechannels.com/tv/valbum/4.

https://youtu.be/vhWGF5wmcQU

Information article on children's eye care

https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2018/06/683589