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The Growing Eye |
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| Anatomy of an Eye |
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Good vision is essential for proper physical development and educational progress in growing children. The development of the
visual system is extremely age sensitive and hence early detection and treatment of visual problems is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
Protecting your child’s eyesight
Sports and your child’s eye -
According to the National Programme for Control of Blindness, nearly all impact injuries to the eye could be prevented by
using proper eye protection. If your child is involved in contact sports or ball games, eye protection is a must.
Polycarbonate plastic for lenses and special safely materials for frames is recommended.
Swimming and your child’s eye -
Chlorine in pools can causes irritation. Infections can be contracted in freshwater. Avoid these harmful effects by using
water tight swimming goggles.
VDUs and your child’s eye -
VDUs (Visual Display Units) included computer and television screens. Prolonged work with VDUs may give rise to eyetrain,
headaches, burning, itching, blurring of vision, nausea and fatigue. Here are a few recommendations.
For computers
1. Position the VDU in such a way to minimize reflection and glare.
2. Preferred viewing distance 60 to 80 cms from the eye.
3. Place the VDU at eye level or slightly lower.
4. Take periodic breaks, 5 to 10 minutes every hour.
For television
1. Do not watch TV in a dark room. A softly illuminated toom is ideal.
2. Preferred viewing distance 3 to 4 meters.
Lighting and your child’s eye
While reading, the light source should be positioned behind your child. At a desk, preferably use a shielded light since this
prevents light from shining directly in his/her eyes. The light should not be glaring. The reading material should be at a
distance of 12-14 inches.
Preserving your child’s eyesight
Loss of vision in the most feared disability, particularly when someone in the family has an eye problems or a ‘high number’.
However, many of the problems leading to visual loss are related to lifestyle choices. Vision depends on a clear lens, rich
microcirculation to the retina, and visual nerve cells of the retina called roads and cons. These are adversely affected on
exposure to toxins and oxygen free redicals, and poor dietary habits.
Common eye problem in children
• Refractive errors (spectacle number) account for 80% of visual impairment in children. This includes Myopia or
near-sightedness, where distance vision is blurred but a child can usually see well for reading or other near tasks. This
occurs most often in school-age children. The prescription for glasses will indicates a minus sign before the
prescription(for example,-2.00).
Another problem is Hyperopia (for-sightedness),where problems such as crossing of the eyes, blurred vision, or discomfort may
develop. However, most children are far-sighted early in life and it becomes a concern only in excessive cases where the
focusing muscles are not able to keep the vision clear. A prescription for hyperopia will be preceded by a plus sign (+3.00).
Astigmatism is also common and is caused by a difference in the surface curve of the eye. Instead of being shaped like a
perfect sphere (like a basketball),the eye is shaped with a greater curve in one axis (like a rugby ball) and this causes
fine details to look blurred or distorted. Here, the prescribed glasses have greater strength in one direction of the lens
the lens than in the opposite direction.
Anisometropia causes children to have a different prescription in each eye. This can create a condition called lazy eye,
where the vision in one eye does not develop normally. Glasses(and sometimes patching) are needed to ensure that each eye can
see clearly.
• Lazy eye or Amblyopia is seen in 1% of children. It is a failure of the eye to connect to the eye to connect to the
brain due to lack of use of one eye during infancy and childhood. Therefore, the vision in the amblyopic eye remains poorer
then in the normal eye. To solve this, the poorer seeing eye forced to be used by patching the preferred eye and combined
with the use of corrected by 9 years of age by which time it becomes permanent. To detect and treat ambylopia, it is
necessary to examine preschool age children.
• Squint or Strabismus, also called crossed-eyes, means that the eyes are not aligned but are pointing in different
directions. They may either point inwards towards the nose (esotropia), outwards to the ear (exotropia)or up or down
(vertical strabismus). The problem can be constant or intermittent. However intermittent strabismus occurs in infants during
the first few months of life, especially when the infants is tired, since they are still learning to focus their eyes and to
move them I a coordinated fashion. Most babies outgrow this intermittent strabismus by the age of 3 months. For other cases,
various treatment options are available, including exercise for the eyes, called orthoptics.
Some of the uncommon eye problems in children include cataract, glaucoma and retinal problems, which are treated through
different methods.
Start with the diet
All children need the same nutrients, no matter what their age. Give your child a healthy diet with emphasis on fresh
vegetable and fruits, whole grins, beans, seeds, and nuts. The nutrients that the provide are important for overall as well
as eye health. If you wish , add a small amount of organic, low-fat yogurt. For non-vegetarians, add organic eggs and small
amount of fish. Avoid those addictive sweets along with the sodas, cookies, pies, ice-cream, and candy. Junk food is
prescription for disaster when it comes to eyesight. Staying with a mostly vegetarian diet of natural, unprocessed foods will
help preserve the circulation to the retina, the roads and cones, and the lens.
Add Exercise for Circulation
Regular exercise helps to maintain a low blood pressure and preserve the blood vessels, which the retina is rich in. It is
also improves circulation to the heart through the coronary arteries. Exercise also helps to support the heath of the cells
that line the arteries, called endothelium. These cells help relax the blood vessel muscles and maintain blood flow.
Protection from ultraviolet light
Eyes undergo lot of oxidative damage to the lens and the retina on exposure to ultraviolet light and circulation of oxygen
from the dense retinal capillaries. Protecting the eyes from too much sun exposure may help delay any degeneration of the
lens and the retina. However, some sun exposure is healthy as long as it is in moderation. Sunlight is important for the skin
for the protection of vitamin D. A wide –brimmed hat and UV-filtering sunglasses(in older children) provide protection for
the eyes.
Supplements for the eyes
Over 25% of childhood blindness in India is due to vitamin. A deficiency. Many dietary supplement supports eye health. They
improve vision and help protect the macula (the area of the retina with the sharpest vision) and the lens. The usual
antioxidants such as vitamins E and C, and the trace minerals selenium and zinc help the retina and the lens. Other helpful
nutrients are the amino acid taurine, carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lycopene (found in tomatoes), lutein (from spinach),
and the anthocyanosides(related to bioflavonoids)found in grapes.
The gift of vision is precious. Give your children the best start in life they can by visiting your eye doctor today.
Because it’s never to early
to help your child have a bright future.
Recommendations for Eye examination in children
1. A pediatrician should examine a new born’s eyes. An ophthalmologist should be asked to examine all premature infants.
2. Vision screening should be done between 3 and 3 ½ yrs of age. Routine screening school checks should be done.
3. Detailed eye examination must be done if there is appearance of symptoms of visual impairment.
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