Refractive Errors in Children

Refractive Errors in Children

Children usually cannot express their vision problems. For this reason, regular eye examinations in children and babies are of great importance. Some children may blink excessively when reading, frown and rub their eyes constantly.

It is important that every child is examined regularly for refractive errors and other eye problems. Even as young as 3 or 4 years of age, children can undergo vision tests with images filled with pictures, shapes or letters. By testing each eye separately, vision loss affecting only one eye can be identified.

The most common refractive errors in infants and children are myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia.

Myopia

Myopia is a refractive error, usually of genetic origin, which causes distant objects not to be seen clearly. It is the most common vision problem requiring correction in children. This condition may cause headache or eye fatigue. It usually occurs when school-age children cannot see the board clearly.

Astigmatism

It is a condition that causes the two focal points to fall in different places due to the abnormal curvature of the cornea – this leads to objects at near and far distance appearing blurred. Astigmatism can cause eye strain and can be seen in combination with myopia or hyperopia. Astigmatism can begin in childhood or adulthood. There are some symptoms such as headache, eye strain and fatigue. Children with astigmatism often rub their eyes, lose interest in school and have difficulty reading. Depending on the severity of astigmatism, glasses or contact lenses may be required.

Hyperopia

It is the blurred vision of close objects. Hypermetropia, which can occur not only in later life but also in childhood and adolescence, causes the person to be unable to focus on nearby objects and can lead to symptoms such as headache, eye strain and fatigue. In children with hyperopia, blinking, eye rubbing, lack of interest in school and difficulty in reading can be seen frequently. It is usually of genetic origin and sometimes strabismus may also occur in hyperopic children.

Untreated refractive errors are one of the most common causes of vision loss in children in Turkey and worldwide. Refractive errors that are not treated with glasses or contact lenses at an early age can result in permanent blurred vision in adulthood; this is called amblyopia.

Children usually do not complain about blurred vision, especially if they only have blurred vision in one eye. Untreated refractive error has no obvious signs or symptoms. Parents and carers may not notice any problems by looking at their child’s eyes. The best way to diagnose refractive error is an eye examination. During the examination, drops that dilate the pupils are applied to both eyes of the child. This examination helps the ophthalmologist to assess whether there is a refractive error and how serious it is. If necessary, glasses may be prescribed to improve the child’s eyesight.

What is the price of refractive errors treatment in children?

The price of refractive errors treatment in children varies depending on the underlying cause and the operation to be performed. The treatment plan to be created by our specialist ophthalmologist depending on the detailed examination result may vary from person to person.

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The above information is for informational purposes. If you have any medical concerns or questions, please make an appointment with our ophthalmologists.