Eye Health in Infants

Eye Health in Infants Turkish Ophthalmological Society has emphasized that close monitoring of eye health development from the day of birth is vital and has outlined matters that parents should pay attention to. Dr. Sedef Kutluk, drawing attention to the fact that vision defects occurring in infants affect children throughout nearly their entire lives, stated: "In children, monitoring eye health from birth, testing visual acuity before age 4, and conducting regular check-ups at least once a year for children wearing glasses are very important." Dr. Sedef Kutluk from the Turkish Ophthalmological Society's Optics, Refraction and Low Vision Rehabilitation Department has addressed vision problems encountered in infants and children, offering important warnings about matters that parents and caregivers should pay attention to.

Affects children's entire life

  Dr. Sedef Kutluk, noting that undetected and uncorrected refractive errors are the most common cause of vision impairment and the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, stated: "Most cases of refractive errors can be corrected with glasses. Uncorrected refractive errors in children can lead to academic failures, and depending on the type and degree of the refractive error, can cause amblyopia or reduced visual acuity in one or both eyes, negatively impacting the child's lifetime productivity and overall quality of life, and thus affecting life success. For this reason, early diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors during early childhood is of great importance."

Most common eye diseases in children

  Dr. Sedef Kutluk, adding that the main refractive errors in children are the same as in adults—myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism—continued as follows: "Some of these refractive errors can lead to amblyopia, causing permanent vision loss throughout life. Refractive errors that can cause amblyopia can be listed as high hypermetropia, high myopia, high astigmatism and anisometropia (the refractive error of the two eyes differing by more than a certain value). Refractive error can be present from birth or develop later. Most importantly, normal values for refractive error vary according to the child's age and the presence of accompanying other eye findings, and refractive errors also vary with the anatomical changes occurring in the eyes as the child grows. For this reason, it is important to evaluate vision through regular check-ups and make necessary adjustments in children wearing glasses. Moreover, since children cannot understand any differences related to vision or express complaints, a comprehensive eye examination should be performed on our children in early childhood."

Regular examinations are essential

  Dr. Kutluk, adding that if structural anomalies in the eyes, nystagmus (eye tremor), strabismus (eye misalignment), amblyopia risk, refractive errors such as myopia, hypermetropia or astigmatism in values incompatible with age, or other focusing problems are detected during screenings at 0-3 months and 36-48 months before starting school, a comprehensive pediatric eye examination by an ophthalmologist should be performed, continued as follows: "For children in whom everything is found to be normal during initial screening; comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist is recommended between ages 1-3 years, and if examination cannot be completed during this period, a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist is definitely recommended before starting school. Subsequently, eye check-ups are recommended every 1-2 years. During these screening programs, early diagnosis and treatment of some diseases that manifest as refractive errors, and even some life-threatening diseases, may also be possible." Dr. Kutluk concluded as follows: "Apart from eye and eyeglass examinations in children, prescribing glasses to children differs from adults. Due to children's adaptation problems with examinations, their inability to express complaints, and their failure to notice or describe abnormal findings, early diagnosis and treatment may be delayed, permanent vision deficiency may develop, which negatively affects children's school and life success. It should not be forgotten that refractive errors are variable during childhood and that early diagnosis and treatment are important, and our children should definitely undergo comprehensive eye examinations at an early age. In children, monitoring eye health from birth, testing visual acuity before age 4, performing a comprehensive eye examination before starting school if never examined, and conducting regular eye check-ups at least once a year for children wearing glasses are important."