Vision is essential for people of all ages, but for kids, having clear, crisp vision has a direct bearing on their learning and development, in addition to helping them enjoy the world to its fullest.
Our pediatric ophthalmologists are trained to diagnose and treat common eye and vision problems that often occur during childhood. However, that means parents need to know what to look for so they can seek a medical evaluation as early as possible.
As a leading provider of pediatric eyecare for Arizona kids, ABC Children's Eye Specialists uses the most advanced techniques to spot early signs of eye and vision problems, providing state-of-the-art care tailored to each child’s unique needs.
In this post, our team offers an overview of some of the most common childhood eye diseases that can be difficult to spot in their early stages.
Amblyopia is a common vision problem for kids, occurring when one eye is "stronger" than the other. As a result, the brain begins to favor the stronger eye and ignore signals from the weaker eye, leading to long-term vision problems if not corrected.
Strabismus happens when your child’s eyes don’t align the way they’re supposed to. For instance, one eye drifts inward or outward while the other eye looks straight ahead.
While severe cases are obvious, strabismus can be very subtle, interfering with reading, sports, and school activities. In fact, the effects can be so significant that strabismus may wind up being misdiagnosed as a learning problem.
Typically considered a problem for older people, glaucoma can affect kids, too. Glaucoma happens when the pressure inside the eye increases, pressing on the optic nerve — the nerve responsible for vision.
Glaucoma can cause discomfort, excess tearing, and light sensitivity. Sometimes, it causes no symptoms at all. Fortunately, regular eye exams help diagnose the problem early before permanent vision loss occurs.
Color blindness makes it difficult for kids to differentiate between specific colors — usually red and green. Often, this problem doesn’t become apparent until kids start school and use colors for learning activities.
Like glaucoma, cataracts tend to occur more commonly with older age, and many parents are surprised to learn kids can be affected, too. This means diagnosis can be delayed.
Some kids are born with cataracts, while others develop them, often as the result of an injury. Less often, a cloudy eye can be a sign of a type of cancer that affects the eye.
Ptosis is the medical term for droopy eyelids, a condition most often associated with aging. Ptosis can affect kids, too. Sometimes, it can be so subtle you might not even know it’s causing a problem.
However, when treatment is delayed, it can lead to weakness in one eye, along with poor visual development. Routine eye exams are the best way to detect subtle signs of ptosis, allowing for early correction.
Vision plays a critical role in growth and development, not to mention quality of life. But if your child has never experienced clear vision, they may not know they have a problem, or they may lack the clarity to explain what they’re experiencing.
That’s why regular pediatric eye exams are one of the best ways to spot problems early so they can be treated and corrected.
To schedule an exam for your child, call our offices to request an appointment with the team at ABC Children’s Eye Specialists in Phoenix, Avondale, Sun City, Gilbert, and Mesa, Arizona, today.
