Ravina Sewani

Babies and children can also get cataract just like adults. A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your child’s eye. If it’s large or dense, it can cause blurry or even blocked vision. Your child may get a cataract in one or both the eyes. Causes:Congenital cataract (cataract by birth) is caused by a chromosomal problem like Down syndrome. They might also be due to hereditary, metabolic problems, diabetes, trauma, inflammation, drug reactions, or if the mother develops any infection during pregnancy.If the child develops cataract later in life, the possible causes include:<ul><li>Eye injury</li><li>Diabetes</li><li>Complications from eye problems</li><li>Radiation treatment</li><li>Steroids</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Poor vision – you may notice your child has difficulty recognising and following objects or people with their eyes</li><li>Rapid uncontrolled eye movements or "wobbling" eyes</li><li>The eyes pointing in different directions – known as a squint</li><li>A white or grey pupil</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Congenital cataracts are diagnosed when the doctors conduct the newborn exam after a baby is born. You can’t always see cataracts. But when you can, they usually look like a white or grey spot or reflection inside the pupil. It’s important to get your child’s vision checked regularly. The earlier you find cataracts, the better your child’s eyesight will be in the long term. The first vision screening takes place when your child is a newborn.</li><li>Pay attention when your child complains about ANY kind of vision problem and get them checked as soon as possible. Keep track of the vision development milestones of your child and seek your child’s doctor’s assistance for the same.</li></ul> Treatment:<ul><li>The only treatment for cataracts is for a child to undergo a surgery to remove them. Your child’s doctor will give your child a general anaesthesia, so (s)he won’t be awake or feel anything during the operation.</li><li>After the surgery, the doctor usually advises to wear eyeglasses for a few days and will prescribe eye drops for your child.</li></ul>

Here are Cataract Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Cataract in children

Headache is the pain or discomfort in the head. Just like stomach aches, headaches can also be of 2 types: pathological and functional.Headaches can be functional or pathological in nature. Pathological pain can be due to tumour or any other complexities, but this is rare in small children. Children usually do not get headaches. But if they do, these can be the basic reasons behind headaches in children:<ul><li>Inadequate hydration</li><li>Skipping a meal or breakfast</li><li>Not getting enough sleep. Sound sleep for a minimum of 10-12 hours is needed.</li><li>Stress due to studies pressure or any emotional conflict can also cause headaches.</li><li>Vision problems like nearsightedness or farsightedness</li><li>Constant use of screens</li><li>Family history</li></ul> Symptoms: fussiness, crankiness, problem in sleeping Types of headaches: <ul><li>Tension headaches: These are due to emotional stress or tiredness. This is the least serious of all. It can be due to family conflicts or problems in the school</li><li>Congestion headaches: These are due to cold or flu and usually stop when the illness is over.</li><li>Headaches after an injury: Headaches are followed by head injury for a while. With the doctor’s help, it can be cured. If your child has had an injury in the past, headaches might occur even after many years.</li><li>Migraine headaches: It is a more serious kind of headache and requires medication prescribed by a doctor. A child is susceptible to develop migraine headaches if they run in the family. Visit your child’s paediatrician for the same.</li></ul> Diagnosis: Your child’s doctor will look into your child’s headache history; carry out a physical exam and in some cases neurological exam. In very rare cases, your child’s doctor might suggest for a MRI or CT scan.&nbsp; Treatment: For children, doctors usually do not prescribe medications unless the situation is serious. Usually following remedies work for children quite well:<ul><li>Lay your child down on a bed with his/her head slightly raised, in a cool, calm, quiet and darkroom. Put on the curtains.</li><li>Apply a cold compress (a cold wet washcloth or ice wrapped in a washcloth) on the head or nape (backside of the neck). Or ask your child to take a cold-water bath.</li><li>Apply heat. Apply warm (not hot) wet washcloth on the head or nape or ask your child to take a warm-water bath.</li></ul>Note: See what works the best for your child – cold compress or heat.<ul><li>Place a cool, moist cloth across your child’s forehead and eyes. Ask your child to relax and take easy and deep breaths.</li><li>Make sure your child follows a regular sleeping and waking time daily.</li><li>Make sure that your eats on time. Low blood sugar may sometimes cause a headache.</li><li>Make your child drink sufficient water.</li><li>If your child is old enough, you can give over the counter medication after consulting the doctor.</li><li>For pain management without medication, you can ensure your child is stress-free. Make your child do exercises that help him/her relax.&nbsp;</li><li>Avoid any trigger that can cause headaches like extreme heat, insufficient sleep, hunger etc.</li></ul> When to visit the doctor:<ul><li>Daily headaches interfering with a child’s life</li><li>Headaches when coughing, sneezing, running or during a bowel movement.</li><li>Sudden headache for the first time with numbness and vomiting.</li><li>Headaches with a stiff neck and fever</li><li>Headaches after a head injury that keep coming back.</li><li>Headache accompanied by fits, fever or tiredness.</li><li>If the child is drops things from hands</li><li>Sudden deterioration of performance in school</li><li>Headaches along with pain in eyes and ears.</li><li>Headaches similar to any of the family members.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.</li><li>Fixed eating schedule</li><li>Make sure your child hydrated at all times.</li><li>Encourage your child to openly talk to keep stress at bay.</li><li>Observe if your child is allergic to certain foods. If so, visit the paediatrician or you can give those foods at a minimum.</li></ul>

Here are Headache Symptoms, Causes, Types, Treatment, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Remedies.

All about headaches

Eyestrain is a symptom, not an eye disease. Eyestrain occurs when eyes get tired from intense use, such as driving a car for extended periods, reading, or working at the computer. Causes:<ul><li>Looking at digital device screens</li><li>Reading without pausing</li><li>Being exposed to bright light or glare</li><li>Having an underlying eye problem, such as dry eyes or uncorrected vision (refractive error)</li><li>Being stressed or fatigued</li><li>Being exposed to dry moving air from a fan, heating or air-conditioning system</li></ul>In children, the most common cause of eyestrain is the prolonged use of screen in day-to-day life. Effects of excess screen time on children's eyes:<ul><li>Blurry vision</li><li>Watery, dry, itchy, or red eyes</li><li>Double vision</li><li>Headaches</li><li>Sore or tired eyes</li><li>Burning in eyes</li><li>Sore neck, shoulders or back</li><li>Increased sensitivity to light</li><li>Difficulty concentrating</li></ul> Remedies to soothe eyes after excessive screen time: Adjust the lighting: When watching television, keep the room softly lit. When reading printed materials or doing close work, try to position the light source behind your child and direct the light onto the page or task. Take breaks: Ask your child to take occasional breaks and ask them to rest their eyes by looking away from the digital screen. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, encourage your child to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Blink often: Children get so engrossed in screens that they blink less than usual which can contribute to dry eyes. Blinking produces tears that moisten and refresh eyes. Keep reminding your child to blink often. Reduce glare: Place an anti-glare cover over the screen so that the screens are easy on your child. Cut down your child's screen use an hour or 2 before bed. Keep distance: Ask your child to keep the screens 20 to 28 inches away from their eyes. Computer use glasses: If your child is facing extreme irritation in his/her eyes, get them to wear computer-use glasses which will protect their eyes from the screen's glare.

The digital age has taken a toll on the eye health of children. We can completely avoid the use of screens but we can keep it in check.

Eyestrain and eye care after a prolonged screen time

Palak Vyas

Tearing is a normal function of the eye. But when tear ducts get blocked due to infection and inflammation, tears well up in the eye and fall excessively; this is called "eye watering". In newborns, the condition usually resolves itself within a few weeks. Common causes of watery eyes:<ul><li>Allergies</li><li>Blocked tear duct</li><li>Common cold</li><li>Dry eyes</li><li>Ingrown hair lashes</li><li>Pink eye (Conjunctivitis)</li><li>Stye (a red, painful lump near the edge of the child’s eyelid)</li><li>Tear duct infection</li><li>Eye injury</li><li>Chemical splash in the eye</li></ul> Symptoms associated with watery eyes:<ul><li>Eye pain</li><li>Eye infection</li><li>Runny nose</li><li>Vision impairment</li><li>Sneezing</li><li>Swelling in the eyes</li><li>Redness in the eyes</li></ul> Treating eye watering:<ul><li>Sometimes a sticky liquid may form around the baby's eye or eyes. You can use a piece of cotton wool that has been soaked in sterile water to clean the eyes. Make sure to boil the water to make it sterile and then cool enough before dabbing it on the child’s eyes with cotton wool.</li><li>Sometimes tears can be relieved by gently massaging the tear ducts. Apply light pressure with the finger and thumb to the outside of the nose.</li><li>If the situation persists for more than a day, consult a doctor.</li></ul>

The problem of constant tears usually resolves within a few weeks in a newborn. If eye watering is accompanied with other problems, you might want to consult a eye specialist for your child.

Treating eye watering

Squint eye or strabismus is misalignment of the two eyes where the eyes do not look in the same direction. This means that a child with squint eye(s) may not focus on an object (s)he is looking at. When a child is looking straight ahead, one of the eye may turn either inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards. Some babies are born with a squint (strabismus), and some babies and children develop a squint later. Acquired squints are sometimes caused by the eye trying to overcome a vision problem, such as short-sightedness, but in many cases the cause is unknown. Rarely, a squint may be caused by a condition in the eye itself. In most squints one eye turns inwards or outwards. Less often, it may turn up or down. The misalignment in some cases is constant while in other can appear only at some particular times. Squint eye is also associated with weak eyesight. Types of squint:<ul><li>An eye that turns inwards is called an esotropia.</li><li>An eye that turns outwards is called an exotropia.</li><li>An eye that turns upwards is called a hypertropia.</li><li>An eye that turns downwards is called a hypotropia.</li></ul> Causes:<ul><li>Trauma</li><li>Lesions in the brain</li><li>Staring screens for long hours</li><li>Imbalance in the eye muscle</li><li>Aberration in the nerve supply</li><li>Decreased vision in one eye</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>A family member, teacher, or a health care provider notices that the eyes of a child are not straight.</li><li>Kids usually don’t complain for vision problems although some kids may complain of double vision (seeing two objects when there's only one in view) or have trouble seeing things in general.</li><li>Younger kids who cannot fully talk may squint a lot and turn or tilt their heads in an attempt to see more clearly.</li></ul> Diagnosis:Squint can be diagnosed when a child is taken to an ophthalmologist for routine check-up. Tests to find a squint can involve covering and uncovering each eye in turn. This often shows which eye has the squint and how it moves. The pupils of the eye can be checked with a torch, to check that they become smaller (constrict) with light and widen (dilate) when the light is removed. Very occasionally a scan of the eye or the brain may also be needed. Treatment:<ul><li>The correction of squint eye can be done by an eye specialist only. The first is that your child will be prescribed glasses to wear. After the prescription of the glasses, the doctor usually assesses the squint again.</li><li>The doctor will either advise patching of the eye or the use of dilating drops depending on the type of squint. The eye specialist might also suggest some eye exercises to strengthen the eye muscles.</li><li>In a more complicated case of squint eye, the doctor might also suggest a surgery to be done.</li></ul>

Many a times, squint eye resolves on its own but if it does not, it needs correction and treatment.

Squint eye in children

Conjunctivitis in children is very common. Conjunctivitis causes red, irritated and sticky eyes. It is caused either by an infection (viral or bacterial) or due to allergies (irritants). Symptoms of conjunctivitis can last from 3 days to 3 weeks. If the child is younger than 6 weeks, consult a doctor immediately. Causes:<ul><li>Bacteria</li><li>Viruses</li><li>Allergy</li><li>Pollution</li></ul> Signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis:<ul><li>Redness of the white part of the eye</li><li>Irritation or itching in the eye</li><li>Bacterial conjunctivitis shows stringy discharge</li><li>More tears than usual</li><li>Swelling of the eyelids</li><li>Crusting of the eyelids or eyelashes</li></ul> Treatment of conjunctivitis:<ul><li>Viral conjunctivitis may last for one to two weeks and does not need medical treatment. It resolves on its own.</li><li>For bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis, see a doctor. Symptoms usually improve within 24 to 48 hours once treatment is started. Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually treated for five to seven days.</li></ul>You can use follow any of the following remedies to treat conjunctivitis in children:<ol><li>Salt water solution: Add 1/2 tablespoon of salt to pot of boiling water. Let it cool down. Then dip a cotton ball in this water, squeeze it a bit and keep it on both the eyelids of the baby.</li><li>Potato Slice: Peel the skin of raw potato. Wash it properly, Cut very thin slices and place them on both the eyelids of your child.</li><li>Chamomile oil: Add a few drops of chamomile oil in lukewarm distilled water. Dip cotton balls in this and place it on both eyelids of the baby for 5-7 minutes. Please note that this is not recommended for children below 1 year.</li><li>Consult an eye specialist if the problem persists for more than a few days.</li></ol> Prevention of conjunctivitis:<ul><li>Ask your children to wash their&nbsp;hands often throughout the day with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Wash your hands before and after using the eye drops. Also wash your hands if you come into contact with an infected person’s eyes, clothes, or other personal items.</li><li>Ask your child not to&nbsp;touch or rub his/her eyes.</li><li>Do not allow sharing of personal items such as towels, blankets, pillowcases, etc.</li><li>Wash bedding, washcloths, and towels in hot water after you use them.</li><li>Do not send your child to school or play if he has severe conjunctivitis with pus and sticky discharge.</li></ul>

Here are Conjunctivitis Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention.

All about Conjunctivitis

Dry eyes describe a condition when the eye is unable to produce tears properly or does not produce tears of a suitable consistency. Symptoms associated with dry eyes:<ul><li>Your child may experience stinging or burning sensation in the eye.</li><li>He or she feels something is caught in his/her eye.</li><li>They may have red or painful eyes.</li><li>There may be stringy discharge from the eyes.</li><li>They may experience blurred vision.</li><li>Their eyes may feel tired easily after watching TV or reading.</li></ul> Home remedies for dry eyes:<ul><li>Apply water compresses to the eye.</li><li>In cold weather, you can use a bedside humidifier at night.</li><li>Avoid taking your child in the breezy atmosphere.</li></ul> If the situation persists for more than a few days, consult a doctor.

Dry eyes can lead to constant itching and so it becomes all the more necessary to treat it at the right time.

Dealing with Dry eyes

Causes:Blindness&nbsp;may be due to genetic mutations, birth defects, premature birth, nutritional deficiencies, infections, injuries, and other causes. Symptoms:<ul><li>Pupils are unequal in size.</li><li>Pupils appear white instead of black.</li><li>Eyes don’t move when an object or face is moving in front of it.</li><li>Crossed eyes.</li><li>Eyes flutter from side to side or up and down.</li><li>Eyes do not seem to focus.</li><li>Clumsy behaviour such as knocking things over or bumping into things.</li><li>Repeated shutting or covering of one eye.</li><li>Avoiding tasks that require good vision.</li><li>Frequent squinting and blinking.</li><li>Sitting too close to the TV, holding books too close to the face.</li><li>Face crunching and eye rubbing.</li></ul> Diagnosis: After you observe above symptoms in your child, take him/her to an opthalmologist for thorough examination and diagnosis as there are different types of blindness. An opthalmologist will examine each eye by measuring the visual field, peripheral vision, and visual acuity. Types of Blindness:<ol><li>Colour Blindness: It is the inability to identify the difference between a few shades of colours.</li><li>Night Blindness: It is the difficulty to see under poorly illuminated situations.</li><li>Snow Blindness: It is the loss of vision after excessive exposure to UV light.</li><li>Unilateral Blindness: It is the loss of vision in only one of the eyes</li><li>Bilateral Blindness: It is the loss of vision in both the eyes.</li><li>Congenital Blindness: It is the inability to see from birth.</li></ol> Treatment:<ol><li>Make sure you take an appointment with an ophthalmologist if you do notice any of the above signs and symptoms affecting your kid. Also remember to get a routine check-up done to ensure proper progress and eye health.</li><li>In certain eye problems, wearing glasses or contact lenses may help your kid in seeing better.</li><li>Certain eye problems can be tackled by performing a surgery. In all cases, treatment of the eye problem totally depends on the cause.</li><li>In some cases, children may suffer from vision problems due to nutritional deficiencies and following a healthy diet could help solve the problem.</li><li>Cataract surgeries and certain forms of medications and eye drops could also be a treatment option for some children affected by treatable forms of visual impairment.</li></ol> Prevention: Whether a blindness is preventable or not, can only be identified by an opthalmologist because prevention, like treatment, depends on the type of blindness. Raising a visually impaired child:Connecting to the right kind of people and finding proper guidance can be a lot of help. Here are some tips you can follow to make this journey better and easier:&nbsp;<ol><li>Find your support system: The people who would understand what you are going through and offer relevant advice. Connect with other parents going through the same situation.</li><li>Follow a positive attitude: It is going to be okay! You and the child both will work it out eventually.</li><li>Do not worry about a child's future. Just be rational and practical and believe that it is always going to be better. See how you grow through this experience.</li><li>Read some articles: Go through some of the materials online or just consult your doctor. Ask for some suggestions and maybe read a book or an article on what can make your journey more fulfilling for you and your child. See how you can better the process. A few articles will help for sure.</li><li>Join some organisations: There are some private and government-based organisations you can join. They have nominal fees. These organisations are of great help because they can provide you with every small detail, the problem along with their solutions.</li><li>Educate your family: Introduce your family and extended family and friends to hows and whats of the process. So the child gets similar treatment and it gets easy for everyone to communicate and understand better.</li><li>Most important of all is time and again, take a break. Do not feel alone or weak in the process. The challenges are big sometimes but there is always a way out. You will conquer it. So just go easy on yourself and your child too.</li><li>There are special schools for children with special needs. Their ways of teaching are different and are in accordance with the child’s special needs. Your child will gradually adapt to the situation and you too will cope with it.</li></ol>

Here are Blindness Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, and Diagnosis.

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