As most of us know, cataracts is a disease causing a clouding of the lenses in our eyes that causes impaired vision and can lead to blindness. It’s most often associated with the elderly, but it can present itself in children and infants. For babies, instances are rare, only 0.4% of those born are being are being affected. As kids continue to age, they’re still susceptible at very low rates and odds diminish as they continue to grow older.
But as parents, we all watch out for our children and do the very best to prevent them from going through any unnecessary hardships, especially when it comes to their invaluable vision. It’s better to be safe than sorry and we can look for possible signs for potential trouble with our child’s eyesight and nip them in the bud before they cause permanent damage.
When it comes to cataracts and a myriad of other possible eye conditions, we should be vigilant in checking young children’s eyes, especially before they learn to speak. While cataracts presents with the eye appearing white or cloudy, parents should also be on the lookout for:
ALIGNMENT
At 4-6 months of age, babies eyes begin to settle and become properly aligned. If an infant’s eyes are even slightly crossed, one drifts away, also known as “lazy eye,” or misaligned in any way, you should take them to see an ophthalmologist immediately.
This condition is called strabismus and affects around 4% of children which can be treated using a variety of methods that may include surgery. This misalignment can cause the eyes to operate individually leaving one eye out of focus. If left untreated the brain can lose the ability to interpret images from the affected eye that could lead to permanent vision loss.
For more information on eye care for everyone, including pets and grandparents, check out this infographic, “From Cradle to Cataracts: Eye Care For The Whole Family.”
