
Pediatric Ophthalmology
The first ophthalmic examination should be carried out within the first months of a child's life, especially when:
- the child was born prematurely,
- there are eye diseases in the immediate family,
- the mother experienced infections (e.g., viral) during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester,
- the mother is a carrier of or suffers from zoonotic diseases (e.g., toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis),
- worrying symptoms are observed in the child, such as strabismus (even periodic), redness, excessive tearing, discharge (especially in one eye), frequent touching of the eyes, differences in the appearance of both eyes, or a white pupil.
An ophthalmic examination conducted during this period also allows for the detection of other congenital eye abnormalities. At every stage, it is painless and harmless for the baby's eyes.
Prevention
The first preventive eye examination for a child should take place between the ages of 2 and 3. If the examination does not reveal any abnormalities, subsequent preventive examinations should be conducted at age 4 and then every two years.
During ophthalmic visits, we perform:
- refraction tests (subjective and objective, using an autokeratorefractometer adapted for children's eyes),
- tests for fusion, spatial vision, and color perception,
- convergence assessment,
- examination of the anterior segment of the eye (conjunctiva, cornea, lens),
- measurement of intraocular pressure,
- fundus examination.
Common Vision Problems in Children
During ophthalmic examinations, various problems can be diagnosed in children, including amblyopia (lazy eye), hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism. Early detection of these conditions is crucial, as intervention at this stage of life can help prevent long-term vision problems.
Importance of Early Detection and Treatment
Early detection of vision defects and conditions such as strabismus or amblyopia (lazy eye) is extremely important, as a child's eyes and brain are developing intensively. Treatment may include glasses, visual exercises, or occlusion therapy (patching one eye), which helps correct vision and develop full visual function.
Advice for Parents
Parents should pay attention to certain symptoms that may indicate vision problems, such as:
- tilting the head while looking,
- blinking or rubbing the eyes,
- difficulty concentrating on near or distant objects,
- blurred vision, which the child does not report because they do not know another way of seeing.
Children often do not report vision problems because they perceive their way of seeing as "normal." Therefore, regular visits to an ophthalmologist are essential.
Comfort and Care at OcuMedica
At OcuMedica, we ensure that the visit is as stress-free as possible for the young patient while maintaining the highest precision and accuracy. Our equipment is fully adapted to examine children of all age groups, enabling precise diagnostics and ophthalmic care.
Let's Take Care of Our Children's Eye Health!
Regular eye examinations and preventive care help protect the health of our children's eyes and provide them with the best conditions for development and learning. Let's care for their vision from an early age!