Children's Eye Health and Its Importance

Our children are our future, precious and valuable. The most appreciated gift that can be given to them is a healthy life. However, due to negligence arising from the lack of knowledge regarding the eyes, our children may encounter eye diseases that are becoming more and more difficult to treat. There is no age limitation for an eye examination. Any abnormalities having to do with the eyes should be examined regardless of one’s age. Some children may refuse to be examined, in which case an anesthesia can be used to tranquilize the child. Even though children do not have any complaints, they should undergo a minimum of one eye examination between the ages 1 and 2. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential for a child’ eye health. Otherwise, they may be condemned to sight impairment forever as well as aesthetic problems. The ideal age for the first eye examination for a child is at age 2, even when the child has no complaints. It is of critical importance that children who attend school undergo an eye examination at least once a year.

Attention Parents!

Initial examination between the first 3 months is very important. Irreversible visual impairment may be prevented by diagnosing diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and ROP in this period. Cataract or retinal diseases result in permanent visual impairment and consequently irreversible nystagmus in the 2nd or 3rd months. Lachrymal duct obstruction is detected more easily in the examination carried out between the 3rd and 6th months. Additionally, cataract, glaucoma and infections are detected in these months. You may test your child's visual ability by closing one of his/her eyes and control whether he/she is disturbed or not.

Eye Diseases Seem on Children

• Refractive Errors
• Squint
• Eyelid Diseases-Epiphora
• Congenital cataract
• Congenital Glaucoma
• Allergic Conjunctivitis
• Retinopathy Of Prematurity (ROP)
• Nystagmus
• Eye Neoplasm

What makes us unique:

World Eye Centers have special treatment centers for children. The best ophthalmologists who are expert in children's eye health are working with us and have performed up to a thousand surgeries. The only "Mother and Child Eye Health Centers” of Turkey is in World Eye Centers. Everything is decorated to treat a child even the operating theaters and operation tables. An examination between the 6th month and 1st year is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of diplopia. Squints which endure after the sixth month should be definitely treated during this period. A pseudo squint may become apparent depending on the underdevelopment of noise root. Squint that occurs especially while looking sideways disappears when the skin covering the nose root is elevated. In addition to pseudo cross-eye, an actual cross-eye may be in question. Thus, an experienced children's ophthalmologist should evaluate the status of your child. Age 1 is the most suitable period for the examination of refractive errors. At this age, a refractive error - dependent amblyopia becomes apparent and may be fully treated. If antibiotic eye drops and massage are not sufficient for the treatment of duct obstruction, the 1st year is the most suitable period for probing treatment.

Child Eye Operations

Squint Operations:

Squint operations are performed under general anaesthesia. The eye surgeon moves the muscles connected to the eye so that they are strengthened or weakened. This stops the muscles pulling the eye out of alignment. The number of muscles the surgeon moves depends on the type of squint your child has.

BEFORE	AFTER

Congenital Glaucoma:

This is the early stage of the disease, therefore having no particular indications. If the eye is not treated, a white lens will cover the eye and the baby will eventually lose eyesight. It is vital that the eye is treated without any delay at the earliest stages of the disease. Glaucoma operations are being done under general anesthesia.

Congenital Cataract:

Cataract operations for old people is nearly the same as with young people. The operation undergone for a Congenital Cataract is applied by PHACO (= FAKO) technical.

Tear Canal Duct:

In most cases, baby's tear duct will open on its own between six months to one year of age. If it persists past one year operation could be necessary your child's blocked tear duct does go away, treatments can include

• Nasolacrimal massage, in which you massage the inside corner of your child's nose 2 to 3 times a day
• Cleaning any discharge or matter in the eyes with a warm washcloth
• Antibiotic eye drops when the discharge in the eyes becomes excessive, like if you are having to wipe it away more than 2 or 3 times a day
• Oral antibiotics if your child develops symptoms of dacryocystitis
• Surgical Treatments

A surgical probe takes about 10 minutes. A thin, blunt metal wire is gently passed through the tear duct to open any obstruction. Sterile saline is then irrigated through the duct into the nose to make sure that there is now an open path. There's very little discomfort after the probing.If surgical probing is unsuccessful, your doctor may recommend further surgical treatment.