A condition of irregular curvature of the cornea or lens of the eye is known as astigmatism. In this condition, light cannot focus on the retina, resulting in blurred vision. Astigmatism in a child is most often congenital and often occurs in combination with myopia or hyperopia. This is a kind of refractive error, and in modern medicine it is corrected with contact lenses, glasses, or surgery. There are three types of astigmatism in a child - myopic, mixed and farsighted. This condition is especially difficult to diagnose in children, and parents should pay attention to the signs and symptoms of this visual disorder. And although astigmatism is often present in a child from birth, nevertheless, it can develop after an injury or mutilation of the eyes.
Signs and symptoms of astigmatism:
- blurred or distorted image;
- eye irritation or discomfort;
- difficulty focusing on printed words or lines;
- headache;
- tired eyes;
- Children can tilt or turn their head to get a clearerimage;
- cannot see objects, both near and far, without squinting.
How to detect myopic or mixed astigmatism in a child?
One of the earliest signs of astigmatism is difficulty seeing the words and letters written on the blackboard. If a child squints when looking at distant objects, or holds a book too close to their eyes while reading, they may be suffering from astigmatism. The child may also have difficulty reading and low levels of concentration. There are complaints of blurred vision and headache. Your best bet is to see an optometrist who can help diagnose the problem, if any.
Treatment of astigmatism in a child
Myopic astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, lenses and eye surgery. Corrective lenses compensate for the irregular curvature of the cornea so that the image is correctly focused on the retina. Both types of corrective lenses - glasses and contact lenses - are used to treat astigmatism.
Surgical treatment includes Lasik technique and keratotomy. With the first technique, the shape of the cornea is reshaped by removing tissue with a laser beam, which improves the refraction of light and hence the formation of a clear image. Keratotomy is the removal of tissues directly from the surface of the eye, which leads to a change in their curvature, and, therefore, vision correction.
Also, if the child has a mild formdiseases, you can use therapeutic exercises. Special exercises for the eyes will help strengthen their muscles, improve concentration and, consequently, vision.
Astigmatism is usually a hereditary disease and has mostly a congenital form. May present in young children and usually decreases with age. The child is unable to explain his vision as a disorder, so early diagnosis is difficult. Thus, it is necessary to carry out preventive checks with an ophthalmologist in order to detect any deviations in vision as early as possible and start timely treatment.
