Some of the worst news a parent’s could learn is that his or her child has serious vision problems. Eyesight is a valuable gift that many people take for granted, with various medical conditions having the potential to rob a young person of his or her ability to see. A quality pediatric ophthalmology office can help diagnose and treat some common problems that may threaten your child’s vision long-term.
Eye Health
It is critical that children’s eyes are aligned and that equal vision has been established. The earlier this happens, the higher your child’s chances are that he or she will develop stellar binocular vision, having strong depth perception and fusion—or, the ability to use both of one’s eyes together simultaneously. Although newborn infants may naturally have some variability in their eyes’ alignment, misalignment should not persist past the time they are 3 months old. If the misalignment continues, your child needs to see a specialist in pediatric ophthalmology. Grand Rapids specialists can complete a dilated exam on your child.
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition where a young person’s eyes are frequently or constantly misaligned. This condition is the result of an extraocular muscle imbalance. This deviation exists even with both eyes covered. Children with strabismus have a higher risk of developing a condition called “amblyopia,” which can cause them to permanently lose vision in the affected eye. A pediatric eye specialist can use occlusion therapy to treat amblyopia, or he or she may patch the eye that sees better so that the poorly seeing eye can begin to work properly.
Esotropia
Esotropia is a condition where a child’s eyes are crossed inward. This deviation exists when both eyes are uncovered. If the eyes begin to cross before a child turns 6 months old, the condition may be congenital crossing—an extraocular muscle issue that may require surgery to fix. If the child is also suffering from amblyopia, this condition has to be treated before the esotropia may be treated via surgery. With the assistance of a reputable pediatric ophthalmology, your child’s vision can be enhanced and maintained for years to come.
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology offers high-quality eye care services for children. To find out more about their services, visit URL.
