Vision Disorders in Children

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Common Vision Disorders in Children

by Patty Hone

According to a 1991-1994 CDC study of metropolitan Atlanta area children, approximately 9 in every 10,000 children ages 3 to 10 have low vision or blindness. Two thirds of the children had other disabilities besides having vision impairment. The World Health Organization defines low vision as a visual acuity of 20/70 to 20/400 with the best possible correction

Signs and symptoms of low vision or blindness

Appearance of eyes or eye movements
Crossed or turned eye
Pupils that are excessively large or small
Nystagmus (eyes that bounce around, dancing eyes, or strange eye movements)

Developmental delays and other symptoms
Delays in reaching developmental milestones
Not tracking objects by three or four months
Doesn?t blink at sudden bright lights
Not interested in books or brightly colored toys
Doesn?t reach for things placed in front of him or her
Turning or tilting head to look at an object
Squinting
Eye pressing (rubbing or poking eyes)
Not making eye contact
Self-stimulating activities such as rocking, bouncing, and head nodding

Common causes of low vision in children

Optic Nerve Atrophy - Optic Nerve Atrophy is caused when some or all of the optic nerve fibers are damaged.
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia ? Optic Nerve Hypoplasia occurs when the optic nerve/s fail to fully develop.
Amblyopia ? Also known as lazy eye, occurs when the vision in one eye is reduced. The brain favors the stronger eye and uses it to process visual information
Retinopathy of Prematurity ? Retinopathy of prematurity is caused from exposure of premature infants to excessive oxygen. The excessive oxygen can cause abnormal blood vessels grow and spread throughout the retina in a premature infant. These blood vessels can leak and cause damage to the retina.
Albinism ? Albinism involves a lack of pigment in the hair, skin and eyes. The lack of pigment affects the functioning of the retina and causes the vision to be impaired.
Cataracts ? A cataract is an opacity or cloudiness of the lens. If the lens is cloudy it will obstruct the passage of light to the back of the eye causing vision to be impaired.
Cortical Visual Impairment ? Cortical vision impairment is caused when the portion of the brain that processes visual information is missing or damaged.
Strabismus ? Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes or wandering eyes, occurs when the eyes do not work together properly and appear misaligned.
Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia, and Coloboma - Micropthalmia occurs when the eyes are abnormally small, anopthalmia is when the eyes are missing and coloboma means that there is a gap in one of the structures of the eye.

About the Author

Patty Hone is the mom of a visually impaired child. She is also the co-owner of Justmommies.com - pregnancy and parenting message boards for moms. Please visit Justmommies message board for Visually Impaired Children for more support for parenting a visually impaired child. www.justmommies.com/boards/index.php?showforum=90

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Different Types of Eye Disorders

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whereby the original author's information and copyright must be included.

by Timothy Gorman

The need for prescription eyeglasses could come from many different eye conditions. The most common eye disorders are Farsightedness, Nearsightedness and Presbyopia.

Nearsightedness, otherwise known as Myopia, is the most common eye disorder. It occurs when light focuses in front of the retina rather than focusing on the retina. The symptoms for Myopia are blurred vision on objects that are in the distance. Squinting the eye will actually make the object clearer. Vision can be corrected with prescription eyeglasses with either a bifocal or trifocal lens.

Farsightedness, or Hyperopia, is just the opposite of Myopia. The light focuses behind the retina instead of in front of the retina. One common symptom of Hyperopia is headaches or the eyes will become tired from reading. It is difficult to see objects that are within close range. In children, the most common symptom is crossed eyes. Again this eye disorder, too, can be corrected by wearing prescription eyeglasses.

Presbyopia is another type of eye condition that can be corrected with prescription eyeglasses. This disorder is where the eye's lens cannot focus. This usually happens to everyone in his or her late forties. The symptoms for Presbyopia are that a person finds himself or herself holding reading material farther away to enable reading. Also, eye fatigue is a common symptom.

The importance of getting regular eye exams to check for these eye conditions can't be overstated. Left untreated, all of these conditions will only worsen.

In a routine eye exam the optometrist will also do a glaucoma test. Glaucoma is the build up of fluid on the eye that results in pressure on the retina. It is irreversible if left untreated, and can cause total loss of sight. This is one eye disorder that cannot be treated by wearing prescription eyeglasses. However, this condition rarely has symptoms, therefore stressing the importance of routine eye exams.

About the Author

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more discount sunglasses, contact lenses, LASIK information and discount prescription eyeglasses information that you can research in your pajamas in your home.