Astigmatism in children

Causes of astigmatism in children

Astigmatism is an ophthalmic disease in which light reaching the retina of the eye does not focus at one point. As a result of this disease, a person sees fuzzy blurry images (for example: horizontal, vertical or oblique lines spread out, shift or double).

Astigmatism in children is most often a congenital disease, but it can also be acquired due to eye trauma or surgical intervention.

To diagnose the disease at home, you need to ask the baby to close one glazik (in turn) and show him the parallel black black lines drawn on a white sheet of paper. Then it is necessary to scroll the paper in a circle. If the visual defect is present, then the lines will appear to the child then clear, then blurred, or curved.

Astigmatism in children under one year of age

The diagnosis of astigmatism to the baby can be made only by the oculist. At this age he is most often hereditary. There are two ways to diagnose:

  1. With the help of eye refractometers (automatic or Harklinger refractometer).
  2. By the method of shadow test (skiascopy).

Treatment is appointed individually, taking into account all the factors affecting development and the propensity to the disease. Up to a year, astigmatism in children is very common in mild forms. In the future, vision is equalized and with regular examinations of the ophthalmologist, as well as all the prescriptions of the doctor, astigmatism is controlled and treatable.

Astigmatism in children symptoms

Treatment of astigmatism in children

Often astigmatism in children is manifested with hyperopia or nearsightedness. There are three types of astigmatism:

  1. Mixed astigmatism (short-sightedness of one eye and farsightedness of the second). With mixed astigmatism in children, the most severe visual impairment. The child can not determine the size of the object and the distance to it. This kind of this disease is treated until the adulthood of the child only with the help of specially designed exercises for the eyes. There is also equipment for performing visual training. The main method of vision correction is glasses with cylindrical lenses (so-called "complex glasses") or contact lenses (in our time, toric lenses have been developed, they create less discomfort to the eyes). A regular examination is needed to replace glasses, because dioptric indicators for mixed astigmatism in children are constantly changing.
  2. Myopic (myopic). Myopic astigmatism in children can be developed in high and low degrees. Determine it will help an ophthalmologist during a routine appointment. It is treated in children with the help of a conservative technique (eye gymnastics, special balanced nutrition, glasses, lenses). Surgery and laser correction are only permissible after 18 years.
  3. Hypermetropic (long-sighted) astigmatism in children. The manifestation of long-sighted astigmatism in children can be considered headache during visual exertion, decreased appetite, drowsiness, irritability, general fatigue. The ophthalmologist will explain in detail how to treat astigmatism in a child. Most often a point treatment is prescribed along with general restorative therapy and special exercises for the eyes.
  4. Ignoring the problem can lead to serious complications, such as the "lazy eye" syndrome, strabismus, as well as to a sharp partial or total loss of vision.