Eye Care - Children and Teenagers

Generally, serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts rarely happen on young people. However, necessary eye care is still important young people. A simple refractive error of eye may give big impact to a child. If a child is unable to read properly due to vision problem, it may affects their performance in school.

Regular checkups are important to detect vision problems as children are often unable to recognise vision problem themselves or they are unable to describe the impairments to their parents.

When should children have their eye check?
Generally, vision screening for a child can start at the age of 3. If there is any problem detected at this stage, eye specialist should be consulted for more testing and treatments.

How often should children have their eye check?
Annual eye checkups should be carried out throughout the teen years. If there is an eye sight problem detected, prescriptions or treatment plans will need to be drawn out and updated regularly as the eyesight quality of a child often unstable until adulthood.

What are the vision problem often affect children?
Myopia (Short sighted) and hyperopia (Far sighted) are quite common nowadays amongst children. The problem may be due to error in eyeball shape. This causes blur vision.
Astigmatism - Due to irregular corneas shape. Usually corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
Amblyopia (Lazy eye) and strabismus (Crossed eyes) - usually reduce vision quality. It can also impair depth perception. If not treated, the brain may completely ignore image from one of the eye. Eye care specialist will be able to restore partly or fully the normal vision quality if the problems are addressed early.

What are the symptoms?
Children with red or irritated eyes should see an eye specialist as soon as possible. Children who read/watch at a distance closer or farther than normal could be suffering from eyesight problem and eye specialist should be consulted.