Astigmatism in Children Treatment

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Astigmatism is not a disease. It is a problem with refraction in the cornea. This condition distracts the way that light rays enter into the eye. Often, it occurs along with either farsightedness or nearsightedness.  Children are not exempt from this condition. Anyone can have it. Astigmatism in children is usually a congenital problem. There are many more children suffering from this condition than any other eye problem.

Astigmatism in children is marked by blurred vision.  They see distorted images at all distances. Most of the time, they tilt or turn their head in order to help them see more clearly. These children have difficulty seeing things that are near or far without squinting. They may not have the ability to describe what they are experiencing, and parents should observe their gestures.  Astigmatism in children comes with a lot of discomfort. With this, parents should always remind their kids not to touch their eyes with dirty hands. This may result in more serious eye problems, irritation or even infections. They also find it hard to focus on printed words.

Astigmatism is often linked to genetics.  Children should normally have spherical eyes. The cornea should maintain its curved shape and smoothness. Light should be equally scattered when it gets into the cornea.  This allows for clearer vision. However, with astigmatism, the cornea is deformed. The shape of the cornea becomes imbalanced.  Because of this, light is not evenly distributed inside the eye.  Children with an astigmatism may be able to see some parts of an image clearly. When an object is far from them, they only see cloudy and wavy images. Although most of the cases of astigmatism in children are linked to genetics, it may also be caused by eye trauma, injury or surgery.

Treatments for astigmatism in children vary depending on the severity of the condition. If they have other eye problems present, children may be required to use corrective lenses.  The most popular treatments today include contact lenses. This is the best solution for children who often get headaches due to frequent tilting and eye strain.  These lenses have a special bending power to correct the distribution of light that enters the cornea.  They are called Toric Lenses.

In severe cases, children may need to undergo surgical treatment. Surgical treatments for astigmatism include Photo-refractive Keratectomy or LASIK.  With these procedures, an incision is made in order to remove tissue from the side or front of the cornea.  This promotes better light refraction. As a result, children can see much more clearly.  One good thing about these surgeries is that they provide permanent relief. Children do not have to use corrective lenses at all. They can have perfect vision like other kids their age.

Children may have an astigmatism at birth. It gets worse as they grow older. If parents suspect that their child is having eye problems, they should seek the help of an ophthalmologist right away. Eye specialist can identify vision problems without relying on children who may have problems describing what is wrong.