How to Know if Your Child has Vision Problems?
Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Dr. Adriana Valdes, explains the importance of anual vision care check-ups for children.
Pediatric Eye Conditions
Condition
Pediatric Eye Conditions
Children suffer from many of the same eye conditions as adults but require a special touch when being cared for. At CODET Vision Institute, we diagnose and treat a multitude of pediatric eye conditions, taking care to ensure you and your child understand what is happening at every step in the process.
An Overview: Pediatric Eye Conditions
CODET treats just about every childhood eye condition, seeing patients from birth through age 18. Our doctors and surgeons have special expertise in treating complex eye issues in premature babies. We see a full spectrum of conditions, including:
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Astigmatism
- Blocked tear ducts
- Cataracts
- Keratoconus
- Chalazia
- Allergic conjunctivitis
- Cortical visual impairment
- Droopy eyelids (ptosis)
- Eye inflammation
- Eye injuries
- Ocular trauma
- Ocular malformations
- Eye tumors of or around the eye
- Hyperopia
- Glaucoma
- Myopia
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Diseases that damage the retina
- Retinoblastoma (eye tumor)
- Retinopathy of prematurity
- Retinal dystrophy
- Strabismus
Warning Signs of a Pediatric Eye Condition
It can be difficult for parents to know if their child is experiencing problems with their eyesight, particularly if they can’t talk yet or have problems from birth but have become accustomed to the way they see. If you notice any of the following warning signs, it’s time to make an appointment with an eye doctor for a pediatric eye exam.
- The child routinely sits too close to the TV or complains they can’t see when they sit further back.
- Trouble paying attention in school or a noticeable change in grades. This problem is often blamed on behavioral issues but may actually be related to poor vision.
- The child experiences frequent headaches or stomachaches, especially after school, reading, or using electronic devices or the TV.
- You notice your child squinting more frequently.
- The child’s eye(s) don’t track as expected, or one eye turns inward or outward.
Children are visual learners, particularly as they are learning words and speech patterns. 80% of the information learned in school is presented visually, and poor visual skills can greatly impact the learning process.
Visual skills that affect the learning and development process include near and distance vision but also: eye teaming skills, eye movement skills, focusing skills, peripheral awareness, and eye/hand coordination.
In order to prevent these issues from affecting development and learning, it is important to schedule comprehensive eye exams throughout childhood. Visiting your pediatrician or school nurse for a vision screening may not be enough since these screenings miss about 60% of children with vision problems. Instead, it is best to visit an eye care professional to receive a comprehensive eye exam for a comprehensive evaluation of visual skills. It is never too early to have your child’s eyesight, and eye function checked. We recommend the first visit to the pediatric ophthalmologist occur at one month of age to assess for normal function.
Assuming no problems are discovered at the one-month exam, eye exams should be scheduled at 3 years and just prior to entering Kindergarten. Because of the relationship between learning and vision, many states will require an eye exam before entering school, which helps parents remember to make the appointment.
For school-age children, those without vision correction should receive an eye exam annually, while those requiring vision corrections need an exam annually or at your doctor’s suggested interval. Following a suggested eye exam schedule can lead to early detection and treatment of vision problems, which can help prevent the development of behavioral and learning related issues.
Why CODET for Pediatric Eye Care?
Our pediatric ophthalmologist is Dr. Adriana Valdés Barrena, a Certified Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Strabismus Specialist.
We founded our Pediatric Ophthalmology Service in order to make sure children could receive top vision treatments using the world’s best diagnostic and surgical equipment. Dr. Valdés Barrena is devoted to pediatric eye health and has published several studies in scientific journals. Her calm and friendly demeanor puts both children and parents at ease for an optimal doctor-patient relationship.
Refractive Errors on Children
Learn more about Myopia, Hyperopia and Astigmatism on children with Dr. Adriana Valdes.