General Paediatric
Ophthalmology
Paediatric ophthalmology is a medical specialty dedicated to children’s eye health, dealing with both common and complex vision problems in this age group.
Symptoms
- Squinting or tilting the head to see
- Eye rubbing or excessive blinking
- Red, watery, or swollen eyes
- Poor eye-hand coordination
- Avoiding reading or close activities
Causes
- Refractive Errors: Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism
- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye): Poor vision development in one eye
- Strabismus (Crossed Eyes): Misalignment of the eyes
- Congenital Cataracts: Clouding of the lens present at birth
- Blocked Tear Ducts: Issues with tear drainage causing infections
Diagnosis
Routine eye exams, visual acuity tests, and special paediatric assessments
Treatment
- Eyeglasses: Corrective lenses for refractive errors
- Patching: Covering the stronger eye to improve the weaker one
- Surgery: For conditions like strabismus or congenital cataracts
- Vision Therapy: Exercises and activities to improve vision skills
- Medications: Eye drops or ointments for infections or other conditions
Prevention
- Early and regular eye examinations
- Prompt treatment of eye infections and injuries
- Monitoring of vision development milestones
