Blog Archive

There are lots of reasons for kids to look forward to spring: warmer weather, more time to hang out outdoors, and impending summer vacation, to name a few.  For children who have eye allergies, however, it’s not all good news: An increase in pollen and spores can result in uncomfortable...

Blepharitis is a common eye condition that happens when the eyelid margins are inflamed and irritated. While the condition tends to be more common among older people, it often affects kids, too. At ABC Children's Eye Specialists, our team helps kids relieve blepharitis symptoms by treating the underlying cause. In...

Millions of Americans suffer from amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” a condition that develops when vision in one eye is worse than the other and remains uncorrected for a period of time.  Sometimes, the eye with poorer vision “drifts” out of its normal alignment, leading to the lazy eye nickname. Because...

Ptosis is the medical term for a drooping eyelid, and while it’s relatively rare among children, it can wind up causing significant vision problems when it does happen. Ptosis can affect one or both eyes, with treatment depending on the severity of lid drooping and other factors. As a leading...

Being a parent means being on top of changes in your child’s health, and some are more noticeable than others. Paying attention to your child’s eyes and vision is an important part of that process. If you see yellow “goop” or crusting around your child’s eyes, it’s natural to be...

There was a time when wearing eyeglasses was considered distinctly “uncool,” especially among kids and teens.  Having glasses has changed a lot in recent years, and today, even celebrities are opting for glasses in an array of colors and styles — not just for better vision, but to make their...

Pink eye is a common medical problem and a frequent reason for medical visits, especially for school-age kids. In fact, research shows that about 6 million Americans seek medical care every year for pink eye, which in turn causes kids to miss about 3 million days of school annually. Also...

Healthy eyes and clear vision are essential for your child, and that means having regular eye exams to look for early signs of problems. The next step is deciding who your child should see: an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. At ABC Children's Eye Specialists, we offer both options at our locations in Phoenix and...

Ptosis is the clinical term for a droopy eyelid, typically one lid that droops lower than the other. While it’s not uncommon among kids, ptosis can interfere with your child’s vision, and it’s sometimes associated with vision problems, like amblyopia, also called lazy eye.  Leading pediatric eye specialists in Mesa...

Just over a quarter of kids wear glasses or contact lenses to correct an array of vision issues, like farsightedness, nearsightedness, strabismus, or astigmatism. Ordering glasses online might seem like a convenient option, but without a custom fit, your child’s vision might not improve. It could get worse instead. A leading pediatric ophthalmology practice...

A stye (or hordeolum) is a common eyelid disorder that affects both kids and adults. Usually quite painful, a stye is an infection that happens in one of the eyelid glands.  As a parent, seeing a sore, red bump on your child’s eyelid can be upsetting. But styes respond well...

As many as 4% of American children have strabismus, a common childhood eye disorder in which their eyes don’t align. If a child has strabismus, the eyes appear to be looking in different directions.  Not surprisingly, if it’s not treated early, strabismus can cause considerable problems throughout childhood and perhaps...

Good vision is crucial for a child’s growth and development, from doing well in school to playing sports to participating in social activities. While older kids can let you know about a vision problem, younger ones may have trouble verbalizing their symptoms — or even realizing that something isn’t “normal.”...

Most kids can start wearing prescription contact lenses at around age 12. But there’s more to believing a child is ready for contacts than checking their birth certificate. You want to make sure  contacts are always the right choice for your child. With locations in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, ABC...

Babies don’t come with a “how-to” guide when they’re born, and most first-time parents (and even many old-timers) have a lot to learn — and a lot of surprises.  As a leading pediatric eye specialist in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, ABC Children's Eye Specialists is devoting this post to five surprising facts about newborns’...

About 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and nearly 10% are teenagers. Leaving glasses behind can be a big confidence-booster for your teen, but contact lenses do take some extra care to avoid eye problems.  Knowing how to help your...

As a parent, you want to do all you can to help your child have a happy, healthy life. That includes keeping their eyes healthy and their vision clear. The problem: Kids don’t always tell you when they’re having vision issues — and some children may not even recognize problems...

About 20% of kids have eye or vision disorders, including issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and so-called “lazy eye” (amblyopia). Because vision plays such a critical role in learning and development, early and regular eye exams are essential. With three locations in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, ABC Children's Eye Specialists...

Styes are relatively common, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause serious problems. Knowing what to do if your child gets a stye is important for helping them avoid those problems and heal quickly.  At ABC Children’s Eye Specialists in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, our team helps parents (and kids) care for styes on their own...

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, affects millions of Americans every year, and a lot of those affected are kids. One reason why so many people develop pink eye is because most types are highly contagious, which means it’s really easy for kids — and adults — who are infected to pass it to...

While almost everyone has some degree of astigmatism, a common eye problem that affects the way light enters your eye, it needs correction in about one-third of the cases. Astigmatism is a type of refractive vision problem, so called because it affects the way light refracts or bends when it enters your...

As a new parent, you have a lot to worry about. That’s true whether you’re a first-time parent or you have ample experience navigating the “baby years.” That’s because every child is, of course, different, so caring for a new baby is bound to present at least a few new...

Ptosis is a relatively uncommon eye problem in kids, but when it does occur, it can cause long-lasting problems. Sometimes called blepharoptosis, ptosis happens when one or both upper eyelids droop lower than they normally should. As leaders in pediatric ophthalmology services, the team at ABC Children’s Eye Specialists offers custom treatments for childhood ptosis for patients at...

Commonly called “lazy eye,” amblyopia is the leading cause of vision loss among children, affecting more than 4 in 100 kids worldwide. Amblyopia typically occurs early in childhood, when your child’s vision skills are still developing.  Early treatment is the key to improving your child’s vision and preventing more serious...

As many as 25% of school-age kids have a vision problem that requires correction for them to perform their best at school and in other settings.  Even more alarming — plenty of pediatric vision problems go undiagnosed, in part because many children don’t complain about those issues and because adults...

Pink eye (or conjunctivitis) is one of the most common types of eye infections, affecting about 6 million people every year in the United States. Highly contagious, viral pink eye poses a special problem for kids who spend a lot of time in close contact in schools, on playgrounds, and...

A stye is a painful red bump that forms on your child’s eyelid, right near the base of an eyelash. While styes look serious, rest assured that they’re benign — and as long as they get prompt treatment, they typically don’t cause serious problems. When a child develops a stye,...

Pink eye affects millions of people in the United States every year, many of them children. In fact, pink eye (or conjunctivitis) is the most common eye problem among kids, responsible for 3 million missed days of school every year. Infectious conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and without prompt treatment, it...

Plenty of kids need to wear glasses — but if your child is one of them, you might be a little worried about how they’ll take the news.  Fortunately, many youngsters take the news just fine and go on to wear their glasses without any issues. But what happens if...

As a parent, any change in your child’s health or behavior can be alarming, especially if you don’t know what’s causing that change. If your child reports “seeing double,” it’s certainly a cause for concern — but the good news is, in many cases, the causes of diplopia are benign....

A stye, sometimes spelled as “sty,” is a red, painful bump that forms on top of or just inside your eyelid, near your eyelash. The clinical term for a stye is hordeolum. While not a serious health condition, a stye can be painful, uncomfortable, and unsightly.  Fortunately, most styes resolve...

With kids spending more time than ever in front of a screen, whether it’s a digital phone, TV, or pad, it’s not surprising that there are increasing rates of eyestrain and kids who need glasses. Although pandemic restrictions have decreased in most areas, allowing adults and teens more freedom and...

Your children's bodies change as they grow, and so do their eyes and eyesight. One of the best things you can do to protect your children's sight and eye health is to see an eye doctor regularly, starting at least by your child's first birthday.  However, there are many other...

Seeing a children’s eye specialist, either a pediatric ophthalmologist or a pediatric optometrist, is an essential part of taking care of your child’s overall health. Children often can’t tell you or don’t realize if something’s wrong with their eyes. A children’s eye specialist can detect vision or eye health problems...

Eye and vision problems are common among young children. In fact, it’s probably higher than you think. About 7% of children under 18 have at least one eye or vision condition, and 3% are blind or visually impaired, meaning they have trouble seeing even with corrective lenses.     Early eye care,...

While eye diseases are more common in older adults, children and babies experience a variety of eye diseases as well. Early intervention can correct or save their sight, improve their eye health and, subsequently, improve their quality of life for many years.  Common refractive error issues such as myopia, hyperopia,...

Only you can answer that question. There is no age limit for children to begin wearing contact lenses. Deciding whether your child should wear glasses or contacts to correct their vision depends on how responsible the child is, among other factors, and not their age. In general, children at least...

Strabismus is a common pediatric eye condition. About 4% of children under the age of 6 are affected by this condition, which is a misalignment of the eyes. Also called crossed eyes, strabismus is when one or both eyes turn inward, upward, or outward when looking straight ahead. Although children...

Glaucoma encompasses a group of eye diseases that occur when the pressure within the eye, also called intraocular pressure (IOC), damages the optic nerve. This pressure is usually a result of impaired eye drainage processes.  Although glaucoma is most commonly diagnosed in older adults, it can develop in people of...

When you think of cataracts, you usually think of older people because the risk of cataracts increases with age. By age 75, half of all Americans have cataracts. However, in rare instances, children can develop them too. Babies can be born with them or develop them as a child. A...

Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is one of the most common eye problems in the US, affecting about 6 million people a year. It can be highly contagious, especially among school-age children who can spread it throughout their schools and play areas. It’s called conjunctivitis because it affects the conjunctiva,...

Ptosis, the clinical term for droopy eyelids, can be present at birth (congenital), or it may develop later in life as a result of other conditions that affect the eyes or the muscles and nerves.  In some cases, the eyelid doesn't droop too much, and your child is not impacted...

Tear duct obstruction is a common eye condition among infants. About 5% of all babies experience it in one or both eyes. Fortunately, in most cases, the condition clears up on its own by the age of 1. In about 10% of cases, however, medical intervention is necessary. Tear ducts,...

Pencils? Notebooks? Masks? Check. You’ve got your child mostly ready for school. While schools do require an updated health form, they don’t necessarily mandate an updated eye health form. However, an eye exam is important. For your convenience, your child can get an eye screening with their pediatrician during their...

Blepharitis, which is eyelid inflammation, is not a serious condition, but it is common. About 40-50% of people who visit an ophthalmologist or optometrist have some form of blepharitis.  The other thing you should know about blepharitis is that while it’s unsightly, it’s thankfully not contagious. People with blepharitis usually...

Double vision, also called diplopia, is a common vision issue. One study found that seeing double was the cause of about 850,000 visits to the doctor every year. Double vision is what it sounds like it is: You look at one object but see two. Most of the time, the...

Even though you tell your child not to itch their eyes, mosquito bites, or rashes, you know it’s going to be hard for them to listen to you. After all, you know it’s hard for you not to scratch and itch.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t warn them, however. If...

Dry eye, a common condition in older adults, develops when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or they produce an inadequate quality of tears. This results in eyes that feel irritated and gritty. Not only do tears make your eyes feel better and moist, they also wash away foreign matter...

We all want to keep our children healthy and protect them from harm. For example, most of us slather sunscreen on our kids’ skin to protect them from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, many parents and children don’t realize that it’s not just their skin that needs protection...

While your child may love the eye idea of wearing an eye patch around Halloween — along with a sword and a swashbuckling hat, they probably don’t like the idea of wearing one year-round for several hours a day. Eye patching is a common treatment for amblyopia, also called lazy...

My brother tells a story about when he first started wearing glasses as a child. “I didn’t realize you were supposed to be able to see the blackboard,” he recalled. Wearing his glasses opened up a world to him — a world he didn’t realize he was supposed to be...

Schools and pediatricians do routine vision screenings, and if either suspect there could be an issue, your child will be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist or optometrist, such as the team at ABC Children’s Eye Specialists in Phoenix and Mesa, AZ.   If, during an eye exam with an optometrist, the...

Despite all the wonderful styles available, wearing glasses can encumber young athletes as well as make some children feel self-conscious socially. In such cases, contact lenses may be an optimal solution. But are they right for your child? That depends on a few things. Age is important since, in general,...

If you have a premature baby, you know that, initially, the road to health can be fraught with obstacles. Retinopathy of prematurity is one of those obstacles. Retinopathy of prematurity, also called ROP, is the formation of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. In the most severe cases, ROP can...

As the most common cause of visual impairment among young children, amblyopia affects up to 3% of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and grade-schoolers in the United States. Also known as “lazy eye,” the condition occurs when one eye fails to work properly with the brain, resulting in reduced visual acuity in...

Conjunctivitis, otherwise known as pink eye, is one of the most common eye infections in the world, affecting adults and children alike. It occurs when harmful germs or irritants enter your eye and invade the conjunctiva, or the thin, moist membrane that covers your eyeball and lines your inner eyelid.    ...

Some children are born with vision problems, while others develop them later in childhood. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to know if your child's eyes are functioning properly. It can be especially challenging to detect vision issues when children are young and can't communicate that they're having problems seeing. As...

Your child’s eyes are a wonderful window into their personality, mood, and emotions. In just a single glance, they can communicate joy, unhappiness, curiosity, comfort, pain, and just about everything in between. But if your child has ptosis — an abnormally droopy upper eyelid that partially obscures their gaze —...

A stye, also known as a sty (without the “e”) is an eye condition more common in children than adults. It’s often painful and unsightly, but not usually serious. A stye is a small red bump that forms at the base of your eyelashes, generally on the lower lid, or...

Finding out that your child requires eye surgery can actually be a bit of a relief. It’s natural for you to feel a bit anxious about the procedure, of course, but you’re probably also glad to hear of a way to remedy the serious, painful, or chronic condition that’s been...