Is your child diagnosed with astigmatism? Or you doubt that your child has the relevant symptoms? First of all, let us assure you that astigmatism in children is common and completely treatable. According to some researches, kids aged 5-17 years are 28% likely to get astigmatism in the U.S.A. You can defeat this eye disorder by acquiring knowledge about its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Let’s break up different aspects of astigmatism for your better understanding of the disorder.
Astigmatism Eye Disorder
You can call it Astigmatism when the cornea or the lens of your kid’s eye is not ideally round in shape. It results in distortion of lights when they enter their eyes. Such cornea can’t perceive lights in their correct form. As a result, the kid sees a hazy and blurry vision. Astigmatism is a refractive error like myopia and hyperopia.
5 Major Causes of Astigmatism in Children
- Family History: Check for your family history. If you, your parents, and grandparents had astigmatism, the chances are that your kid inherited this disease from your family. It is common for kids to get it hereditary.
- Myopia: If your kids have myopia, there are high chances of them developing astigmatism. These eye disorders go hand in hand. Your child can see close objects clearly in myopia but can’t see the far ones with much clarity. Myopia is commonly known as near-sightedness.
- Hyperopia: The development of hyperopia is one of the significant causes of astigmatism in children. Hyperopia is known as farsightedness. Your kid can see far away objects with clarity in this eye disorder, but nearby objects appear to be blurry.
- Maternal Smoking: You often hear doctors advising against smoking during pregnancy. It is because kids can develop various disorders due to the toxins they receive through maternal smoking. Astigmatism is one of those eye disorder which can be a result of smoking during pregnancy.
- African-American, Asian, or Hispanic Heritage: Ethnicity can also play a part in your kid getting astigmatism. A study conducted on preschool astigmatism concluded that kids with African-American or Asian or Hispanic heritage have more chances of facing this refractive error in their childhood.
10 Common Symptoms of Astigmatism in Children
- Headaches
- Distorted or Blurry Vision
- Poor Night Vision
- Eye Rubbing
- Eyestrain
- Tilting Head to See Better
- Squinting
- Sensitivity Towards Light
- Headaches
- Closing One Eye to See Better
Possibility of Correcting Astigmatism in Children
It is possible to cure astigmatism with the correct diagnosis followed by the proper treatment. Generally, corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses are prescribed. However, it is not necessary to go for medical treatment always. Minor astigmatism doesn’t need treatment. There are some eye exercises as well, which your kid can do at home to correct the disorder.
3 Types of Treatment Options for Astigmatism in Children
- Corrective Eyeglasses: Corrective eyeglasses come with cylinder-type lenses to correct your kid’s blurry vision due to astigmatism.
- Contact Lenses: In case of astigmatism, Toric or glass permeable or hybrid contact lenses are prescribed.
- Refractive Surgery: In refractive surgery, the shape of your kid’s eye is altered with the help of a laser. Surgery is prescribed only when the doctor feels that the other 2 options won’t work.
Final Words
Your pediatric eye doctor can only suggest appropriate treatment based on the severity of astigmatism. An early diagnosis can make the treatment easier for your child. Sometimes, your child might not show or complain of any symptoms of vision problems. To be on the safer side, you can schedule regular eye check-ups for your kids to maintain their healthy vision.
Guest Writer: Aaron Barriga
Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK. Aaron loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travels.
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