Cataracts affects 0.4% of newborns, but check if yours has white or cloudy eye(s). Strabismus (affects 4% of kids) misaligns eyes, making them work individually, leaving one out of focus. See an ophthalmologist if your child has lazy eye, crossed eye, or misaligned eyes. It's curable but, if untreated, may lead to vision loss as the brain can lose the ability to interpret images from the affected eye.
As most of us know, cataracts is a disease causing a clouding of the lenses in our eyes, which causes impaired vision and can lead to blindness.
Cataracts In Children
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 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 troubles 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, you 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.
Look Out For Eye 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 is misaligned in any way, you should take them to an ophthalmologist immediately.
This condition is called strabismus and affects around 4% of children. It 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 this condition is left untreated, the brain can lose the ability to interpret images from the affected eye that could lead to permanent vision loss.