They say the eyes are the window to the soul. Having good eyesight is essential to everyone, especially to toddlers who are still in their early stages of development. Here is what you should watch out for and what to do about eye problems in children.

Signs and Symptoms of Vision Problems

There are numerous indicators that your toddler has an eye problem. The following are:

• Nausea
• Chronic headache
• Repeated squinting of eyes
• Constant eye rubbing
• Tilts head to see better
• Blurry eyesight
• Double vision
• Overly sensitive to light
• Yellowing of the eye or the pupil
• Has pus in either eye
• Eye pain
• Swollen eyes
• Crossed eyes (eyes do not work in unison)
• Extreme tearing
• Has difficulty seeing near and far

What You Can Do About It

Get An Eye Exam

Regular eye screening is very important to make sure your toddler’s vision is excellent. Experts recommend children ages 1 to 5 to have their eyes checked 3 times a year. If you think your toddler has an eye problem, bring him to your pediatrician. The doctor can suggest an eye care provider. The eye doctor will shine a small light into your toddler’s eyes to examine the pupils and eye alignment. The specialist may also use a special scope to check for deformities at the back of the eye. Your toddler may also be asked to look at an eye chart and read the letters or identify the pictures.

If a more comprehensive exam is needed, you will be referred to an optometrist to determine the problem and the appropriate treatment for your toddler.

Clean The Eyes Regularly

Regularly washing the affected eye with lukewarm water then applying cold compress can help clear the eye of any irritant that may be causing the problem.

Proper Diet

Another remedy to treat eye problems in children is to include fish rich in omega-3 such as tuna, salmon and mackerel, nuts and seeds (sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and walnuts), citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit, orange and strawberry), carrots and green leafy vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce and spinach) in your toddler’s diet to supply his body the necessary amounts of vitamin A and C which helps enhance vision.

Vision Treatments

Eye problems can be cured by vision treatments. Placing an eye patch over the functioning eye so that the lazy eye is used more often can strengthen the muscle movement of the non-working eye. The eye doctor may also recommend an eye drop to correct the misaligned eye. If eye patches and eye drops do not work, your toddler may need to wear a special lens. When choosing lenses, make sure they are scratch-resistant and made of polycarbonate which is a sturdy, waterproof and lightweight material. Pick an eyeglass that is comfortable, preferably one with comfort cables and a nose guard. Surgery on the eye muscles is advised if patches, eye drops and special lenses do not work.

An eye problem in toddlers is difficult to recognize. Thus, it is very important for parents to be in the look out to prevent loss of vision.