4 Eye Conditions To Watch for in Your Toddler

When it comes to being a parent, you have a lot of responsibilities. Watching out for your child’s welfare is the most important. Here are four eye conditions that you should monitor your child regularly for and seek medical attention if you notice their symptoms developing.

Epiphora

Also known medically as a blocked tear duct or watering eyes, this condition happens when the duct that runs from the eye to the nose becomes blocked. The most common problem in pediatric ophthalmology is the child with excess tears. This condition tends to fix itself for the most part. However, if you notice that your child has frequent eye infections or their symptoms don’t improve within a 12-month period, then they may need to undergo surgery to fix the issue. Having the eye examined regularly by a professional can help to determine the severity of this condition and the right treatment for your child.

Strabismus

You may hear this condition referred to as turned eyes, crossed eyes, lazy eyes, or squint. Strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes, is one of the most common eye problems in children, affecting approximately 4 percent of children under the age of six years. All of these terms encompass a condition where the eyes are pointed in different directions. In most cases, one of the eyes will point straight forward while the other will point up, down, in, or even out. This condition can be chronic or come and go. Treatment entails glasses, exercises, surgery, and patching.

Chalazion

This condition is defined as swelling of the eyelid. This happens because there is a blockage in the glands of the eyelid. A chalazion can happen to the upper or lower eyelid. The swelling and redness can also result in yellow pus. This condition can occur in one or both eyes. The pockets tend to be small and each eye can develop multiple. A chalazion is more common in people with inflammatory conditions like seborrhea, acne, rosacea, chronic blepharitis, or long-term inflammation of the eyelid. They’re also more common in people with viral conjunctivitis or an infection covering the inside of the eyes and eyelids. Your eye doctor will need to assess your child’s particular condition to determine a feasible course of treatment.

Amblyopia

Amblyopia is defined as a condition where one eye doesn’t receive the same clarity as the other eye. In the United States, amblyopia affects approximately 2 percent of all children. This condition can have many different causes including refractive error, cataract, ptosis, and strabismus. This condition must be treated promptly to help prevent chronic poor vision. The treatment for this condition includes patching and glasses.

As you can see, there are some common eye conditions that you’ll need to be watching out for as a parent. In most cases, the symptoms will be out of the ordinary and easy to spot. If you notice that your child has any of these symptoms or conditions, you should seek out the help of a great eye doctor to execute a successful course of treatment for your child.

By Ani O.
Freelance writer and web enthusiast