What are refractive defects in childhood?
Refractive defects, also known as optical defects, cause poor vision due to defocusing of objects on the retina. These visual defects are myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
Their effects must be corrected, as they can have a very negative impact on children during the first years of life, since this is when they are developing their vision. These visual problems can trigger the child to develop a lazy eye problem. In addition, when they show refractive defects at this age, the image their eyes transmit to the brain is not sharp enough.
Why do they occur?
The dioptric power of the eye is determined by two main factors:
- The cornea and the crystalline lens: they give the eye convergent capacity, since light rays converge to focus the object on the retina as they pass through the cornea and the crystalline lens.
- Axial length: antero-posterior distance of the eyeball that will lead to more or less convergence of light rays, depending on whether the eyeball is longer (myopia) or shorter (hyperopia).
Myopia may increase with the child’s development. Similarly, if the axial length of the eye increases, myopia will also increase. In contrast, farsightedness does not tend to increase with the child’s development, but even decreases if there is an increase in the length of the eyeball.
Is it possible to prevent them?
Refractive errors cannot be prevented, but it is important to detect them as early as possible in order to reduce their consequences. For this, it is essential to work together at home with the school and the pediatrician.
Once the problem has been detected, the ophthalmologist or optometrist should be consulted so that a diagnosis can be made by means of an examination. In this examination, a dilating eye drop will be used so that they cannot compensate for their optical defect and the real extent of the problem can be determined.
What ophthalmological examinations are recommended for children?
First of all, after birth it is advisable to rule out anomalies such as congenital glaucoma, ptosis, strabismus, tumors, cataracts or malformations.
Then, it is advisable to visit the ophthalmologist at 3-4 years of age for a complete ocular evaluation that includes a review of:
- Lazy eye (visual acuity).
- Strabismus (ocular motility).
- Graduation with drops.
- Fundus.
Finally, from 3 to 10 years of age, it is advisable to have an annual check-up and from 10 to 16 years of age, a biennial check-up.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms that parents, teachers or caregivers may detect that make them suspicious are:
- Gets very close to objects.
- He moves in an awkward way.
- Does not pay attention to distant things.
Treatments
Refractive errors are corrected by the use of corrective lenses, either glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. The choice of one or the other will depend on the age of the child, as well as the type of defect and the patient’s needs. In this sense, glasses are the option most commonly used by parents.