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Congenial (Pediatric) Cataracts – What It Is and How It’s Treated

When people think of cataracts, they typically associate the condition with older adults. However, cataracts can happen much earlier in life, and they may even be present at birth.  

If you would like to learn more about congenital cataracts – including what they are, when they can occur, and how they are treated – here’s what you need to know.  

What Are Congenital Cataracts?  

Cataracts are a condition that leads to a cloudiness of the lens of the eye. They occur when specific proteins found within the eye start clumping. As the proteins bind together, they negatively impact vision, such as blurriness or fogginess. In some cases, the distortions are quite severe.  

The size and location of the cataracts can vary. Additionally, they may be present in one eye or both. In cases where both are affected, one may be in worse shape than the other, or the situation could be comparable in both eyes.  

Typically, the proteins clump slowly over time, which is why cataracts are more prevalent in older adults. However, with congenital cataracts, they are present at birth.  

In many cases, the reason the cataracts developed in the infant are not known. However, infections, metabolic conditions, trauma, inflammation, and medication reactions can potentially cause cataracts.  

Are Congenial and Pediatric Cataracts the Same?  

At times, the terms congenial and pediatric are used interchangeably. However, there are actually different versions of pediatric cataracts.  

With congenital cataracts, the condition is present at birth. With acquired pediatric cataracts, they develop after birth. Pediatric cataract patients may be infants, children, or adolescents.  

In some cases, the cause of pediatric cataracts may be known. For example, a previous eye injury may increase the child’s odds of developing cataracts and being diabetic or having certain other metabolic disorders. However, they can also occur without an apparent reason.  

What Are the Risks of Pediatric Cataracts?  

When cataracts occur in very young children, they don’t just impact vision acuity today; they may have a lasting impact on vision, eye health, and brain development. In adults, cataracts occur after the eyes and brain are fully developed, reducing the likelihood of long-term impact.  

Infants and children are different. The eyes and brain usually develop well into childhood, often up to the age of 10. When left untreated, congenital cataracts harm that development, potentially leading to lasting negative effects on vision. This could permanent declines in visual acuity, as well as possible blindness.  

How Are Congenital and Pediatric Cataracts Treated?  

With both congenital and pediatric cataracts, the treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition. If the case is mild and isn’t impact vision, it may be possible to simply monitor the situation, only intervening if the cataracts worsen.  

However, if there is a negative impact on vision, surgery may be a necessity. The procedure removes the cataracts, alleviating the cause of the visual distortions and allowing the proper brain and eye development to occur.  

Ongoing treatment after surgery is also typical. Steps have to be taken to restore the eye-brain connection, ensuring they’ll be able to focus clearly.   

At ECVA, we take the health of our patients’ eyes seriously. If you believe your child may have congenital or pediatric cataracts, we are here to help. Schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.  

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August Is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. It’s a time where we focus on eye-related concerns that impact children and highlight the importance of eye exams for kids of all ages.  

During Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, our goal is to spread awareness about vision issues in children. Without clear vision, children often struggle to learn and play, both safely and effectively. Not only can this increase the odds of injuries, but it can also lead to social and educational issues. By making eye care a priority, many of the problems can be corrected if not fully avoided.  

If you would like to learn more about eye health and safety for children, including why regular appointments with their eye doctor are essential and warning signs of potential issues, here’s what you need to know.  

The Importance of Children’s Eye Health and Safety  

Overall, as many as one-in-20 preschool-age children have a visual impairment. This can include a variety of conditions, ranging from strabismus to refractive errors to amblyopia. Additionally, one in four school-age children has undetected vision issues. Considering that 80 percent of learning is visual, a notable number of children are struggling in the classroom due to eye issues.  

Regretfully, more than 50 percent of parents do not bring their children in for eye exams. Unfortunately, that means many kids are who have a vision or eye-health-related problems don’t receive a diagnosis until the issue has been in place for some time.  

While many parents may assume that they would notice vision problems in their children, that isn’t always the case. That’s why exams are so vital, as they ensure your child’s eyes are healthy and that they can see clearly, allowing them to learn (and play) with ease.  

Warning Signs of Vision Issues in Children  

While some warning signs of vision issues in children are hard to spot, others may be noticeable to parents. Some of the most common ones include:  

  • Eye rubbing  
  • Closing one eye to read or watch television  
  • Excessive tearing  
  • Light sensitivity  
  • Wandering eyes  

As we’ve discussed previously, there are also many hidden signs of vision problems in children that aren’t as easy to spot. By learning about those, you can further watch out for the health and safety of your child’s eyes and vision, ensuring they receive care when they need it most.  

How to Celebrate Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month  

If your child hasn’t had an eye exam recently, now is a perfect time. Celebrate Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month by scheduling an appointment to get their vision checked, ensuring they can see clearly and that their eyes are healthy.  

At ECVA, we take the safety and health of our patients’ eyes seriously, regardless of their age. If your child has symptoms of vision issues or simply hasn’t had an exam recently, our team is here for you. So take a moment and schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.  

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Pediatric Ptosis

child receiving an eye exam

Many parents aren’t familiar with all of the conditions that can impact their child’s eyes or vision. Pediatric ptosis, while common, isn’t necessarily widely known. If you are wondering what pediatric ptosis is, what the signs of pediatric ptosis are, and how the condition is treated, here’s what you need to know.  

What Is Pediatric Ptosis?  

Ptosis is an eye condition where the upper lid droops down or doesn’t open completely, causing it to obstruct the eye and physically block the visual field. Pediatric ptosis focuses on the condition when it impacts a child, including infants, toddlers, and younger kids.  

Pediatric ptosis can be caused by weaker eyelid muscles as well as excess eyelid skin. In some cases, it’s congenital, meaning it is present at birth. In others, it develops over time. Both trauma and neurological issues can be a cause and certain habits, like excessive eye rubbing.  

With pediatric ptosis, quick treatment is usually a necessity. Otherwise, the obstruction to the visual field can negatively impact eye development, leading to additional vision issues over time.  

Additionally, identifying the root cause of the condition is a must. That way, if the ptosis is a symptom of another medical issue, the underlying condition can be determined and appropriately addressed.  

Signs of Pediatric Ptosis  

In some cases, pediatric ptosis is outwardly noticeable. It will be apparent when looking at the child, as the eyelid either doesn’t move properly or remains low even when open.  

Some presentations can be more subtle. However, other symptoms indicate potential ptosis, including:  

  • Head tilting when trying to view an object  
  • Headaches or eye fatigue  
  • Running into items that are hanging from above  
  • Delayed walking or crawling  
  • Distorted, blurred, or double vision  
  • Eye misalignment  
  • Dizziness or balance issues  
  • Diminished vision acuity  

Many of these symptoms are potentially associated with ptosis and other conditions, as well. As a result, it’s best to see your eye doctor if any of them develop, even if eyelid drooping doesn’t seem to be present.  

Pediatric Ptosis Treatment  

If your child has ptosis, there may be a few treatment options. Which approach is best usually depends on the underlying cause along with the severity of the symptoms.  

For minor cases, nonsurgical treatment may be sufficient. This can include using eye drops or patching to strengthen the weaker eye, specialty eyeglasses, or a ptosis crutch, a device that supports the eyelid. If weaker muscles are the core issue, eye exercises may also be part of the treatment plan.  

In some cases, surgical intervention is a necessity. Precisely which procedure is required may vary. If an issue with the underlying muscle structure is involved, surgically tightening them may be the best approach. If excess skin is responsible, blepharoplasty may be the right option.  

Ultimately, your eye doctor can determine which treatment course is ideal. They’ll assess your child’s ptosis, identify the cause, and gauge the severity. Then, they can make an appropriate plan, ensuring the pediatric ptosis is addressed correctly.  

At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for the eye health of patients of all ages, ensuring they can see clearly today, tomorrow, and well into the future. If you have a child with signs of pediatric ptosis or if you or your children simply haven’t had eye exams recently, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.  

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Pediatric Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

a close up of someone's eyes, they are slightly red

Pediatric conjunctivitis – also known as pink eye – is incredibly common. Many children end up with the condition, though the exact cause can vary. Additionally, pink eye is often highly contagious, causing it to spread quickly among children.  

If you have questions about pediatric conjunctivitis, including what it is, common causes, how to treat it, and when to see a doctor, here’s what you need to know.  

What Is Pediatric Conjunctivitis?  

Pediatric conjunctivitis is an eye condition that typically leads to inflammation and swelling of the conjunctiva of the eye. This causes the impacted eye’s tissues to appear pinkish and irritated, hence why the condition is also called “pink eye.”  

There are actually several potential causes of pediatric conjunctivitis. Bacterial and viral infections are the most common cause in children, though allergies may also lead to pink eye.  

With infections, conjunctivitis can be highly contagious. If a child touches the infected eye and then touches their other eye, they can spread the infection to the second eye. Similarly, if a child touches the infected eye and then handles an object, someone else who then handles the item could potentially pick up the infection.  

Do Home or OTC Remedies Work?  

With viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, home treatments and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies can ease the discomfort that can come with pink eye. However, they won’t treat the underlying cause of the infection. Viruses usually need to clear on their own time, and direct treatment of bacterial inflections often requires antibiotics, which aren’t available over the counter.  

For allergy-related pink eye, OTC allergy medications may treat the underlying cause. Removing the allergen from the child’s environment is also beneficial, as it limits or eliminates their exposure to the irritant.  

To alleviate the discomfort of pink eye, OTC anti-inflammatory medications can help. Lubricating eye drops may also be beneficial. Just make sure that the tip of the dropper never contacts the eye and that those drops are not used by other people, as the dropper can spread the infection if it comes in contact with fluid from the eye.  

Using a clean washcloth that is dampened with warm water can also be soothing for bacterial or viral conjunctivitis. The washcloth should only be used once before it is washed. Otherwise, it could potentially spread the infection. For allergy-related pink eye, a cool, damp compress will often work better.  

When Do You Need to See a Doctor for Pink Eye?  

While pink eye will often resolve on its own, there are times when seeing a doctor is best. If your child is experiencing pain or light sensitivity, treatment by a medical professional is wise. Similarly, if your child is having trouble seeing, seek out treatment from a doctor.  

Additionally, if the eye is producing a lot of mucus or pus, or the conjunctivitis is accompanied by a fever, body aches, or other signs of a serious infection, making an appointment with a doctor is a good idea. Finally, if the symptoms persist for more than a week or are getting worse, it’s time for treatment from a medical professional.  

At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for the eye health of our patients. If you suspect that you or your child have conjunctivitis or simply haven’t had an exam recently, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today. 

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Some Hidden Signs of Vision Problems in Children

a male child getting an eye exam

As a child grows, their eyes and vision can change. While parents may hope that their child would let them know if they are having trouble seeing, many kids have difficulty identifying shifts in their visual acuity as a problem, even if it’s causing them hardship. As a result, they might not know to speak up about what they’re experiencing, leading the vision problem to remain untreated.  

However, that doesn’t mean parents can’t spot vision changes in their children. If you’re wondering how, here are some hidden signs of vision problems in kids.  

Shortening Attention Span  

If it seems like your child is losing interest in activities faster than usual, that could be a sign of a vision change. When a kid is struggling to see clearly, they may choose to walk away from an activity that’s become difficult because of their vision problem.  

Skipping Up Close Activities  

In some cases, children will try to avoid activities that strain their vision. If your kid is suddenly trying to skip out on up-close activities that they once enjoyed, like reading or drawing, that could be a sign of a vision problem.  

Changing Interest or Performance in Sports  

Many sports require participants to visually track objects, including some that move at high speeds and travel great distances. If a child has a vision change, that may become increasingly difficult, causing either their interest in the sport to fall or their performance to decline.  

Losing Track of Their Place When Reading  

When a child’s vision changes, they may struggle to read. Usually, vision problems can make tracking where they are on a page harder. As they lose their place, they may repeat sections they’ve already covered or skip ahead by mistake.  

Turning Their Head When Looking at Something  

If your child starts turning their head to the side when they look at something positioned in front of them, that may be a sign of a vision change. Refractive issues like astigmatism may cause a kid to shift their head’s position in an attempt to see more clearly.  

Falling Grades or Behavioral Problems at School  

When a child is having trouble seeing, staying focused in the classroom isn’t easy. Since school work tends to rely heavily on clear vision, children with vision problems may struggle to complete their assignments, causing their grades to fall. Additionally, they might become frustrated, increasing the odds that they’ll lash out during class.  

What to Do If You Spot a Sign of a Vision Change in Your Child  

Like adults, children should get regular eye exams. By regularly seeing your eye doctor, they can identify potential issues early, increasing the odds that they’ll be treated or corrected before they become problematic.  

However, even if your child has been to their regular appointments, if you believe you’ve seen a sign of a vision problem in your child, schedule a visit with your eye doctor immediately. A child’s vision can change fast, so it’s wise to have the situation checked at the earliest sign of trouble.  

Helping Your Child See More Clearly is our Goal 

At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for the eye health of our patients. If your child hasn’t had an eye exam recently, schedule an appointment with a Buffalo pediatric ophthalmologist at your closest ECVA clinic today.