SQUINT AND PEDIATRIC
DISEASES

Children are very different from adults and for this reason they have special needs. We have a dedicated pediatric ophthalmologist trained at Sankara Nethralaya. Examining children needs special skills and doctor will use many toys to aid in that process. For the benefit of our kids we have a children’s play area which make them less cranky while they wait in the hospital. Also we have mothers feeding room and baby friendly toilets. Pediatric ophthalmology is an important aspect of ophthalmology because most of us who wear glasses know that we have been wearing them since a young age.

• When and Why to get your child’s eyed examined ?
• Before you Visit us with your child.

The fact that your child doesn’t complain about his eyesight may be lulling you into a false sense of security. There is a possibility that his vision isn’t as good as you think it is. Quite likely your child will never say anything since he may well have been seeing the same way all his life, even if its blurred, double or thorough only one eye.  Without any point of comparison, he has no way of knowing that what he sees should be any different.

It’s never too early for an eye exam especially if you suspect that your child has an eye or vision problem.  Eye doctors can conduct an eye exam long before a child can talk, so get your babies eyes checked early if you suspect an eye or vision problem.  In most situations diagnosing and treating an eye disorder early in life provides a positive outcome for the child.

Parents should schedule eye exams for their children at three important points during their early development –

1. When the infant is about 6 months old.  During this initial check, the Pediatric Ophthalmologist makes sure the eyes are working well together and that they are free of rarely occurring but significant defects.
2. Between the ages of 2 and 3, before the child enters pre-school.  During this eye exam the doctor looks for signs of developmental disorders including “lazy eye,” crossed eyes (strabismus), near sightedness, far sightedness and astigmatism – which trigger difficulties in focusing. If the doctor finds an irregularity, effective therapies can usually begin immediately, often sparing the child from wearing corrective devices (such as an eye patch) during later years.
3. Before the child enters kindergarten.  At this point, the eye doctor tests for sharpness of vision and corrects deficiencies by prescribing glasses.

The great thing about an early eye exam is that we can often start working on problems before they interfere significantly with the child’s eye sight.

Infants should visit an eye doctor if they have:

• Poor focus on objects after 3 months of age.
• Eyes those are not straight.
• An eyelid that is droopy.
• A family history of serious eye problems.
• A watery eye with overflow tearing.

Children should have an eye examination if they:

• Have a red eye with or without discharge.
• Squint their eyes to read or see small objects.
• Complain of blurred distant vision.
• Blink their eyes excessively.
• Complain of headaches or double vision.