Eye diseases in children. Eye diseases in children: list from birth to school age

Children's eye diseases progress a little differently compared to adults, because eye formation continues until the age of 14.

information The main signs accompanying eye pathologies in children include anxiety, irritability, and hyperexcitability.

Main types of diseases

Myopia (myopia). This disease is often observed in children, especially during periods of active growth. The clarity of vision of objects located in the distance is impaired, the child complains of rapid fatigue, tends to move closer to the TV or computer, and squints when watching TV programs.
Farsightedness (hypermetropia). Children who suffer from farsightedness have difficulty writing and reading, fatigue quickly sets in, they complain of headaches, and there are cases of nausea. The child has difficulty seeing close objects, and also cannot clearly distinguish objects at a far distance.
At astigmatism V children's eyes There are two focal points that are not located in the right place. This disease greatly affects brain cells, leading to a condition where wearing glasses does not have the desired effect (amblyopia); the disease does not allow correctly.
most often develops at 2-3 years of age and can be either vertical or divergent. With this disease, there is no symmetry in eye movement due to a violation of the parallelism of the axes of the eyes, deterioration of vision is noted, and disturbances in the central nervous system(CNS) and childhood neuroses.
divided into viral, allergic and bacterial. This disease is characterized by redness and pain in the eyes, sometimes even pus is released. The main symptoms include lacrimation, swelling of the eyelids, itching and dilation of the eye vessels.
Obstruction of the lacrimal ducts() manifests itself in redness of the inner corner of the eye and purulent discharge. In this case, the outflow of fluid from the lacrimal sac is disrupted, and an inflammatory process develops.
For damage to the cornea of the eye characteristic following signs: blurred and unclear vision, pain and cutting sensations in the eyes, purulent discharge.
Iritis (inflammation of the iris) manifests itself in redness of the sclera, blurred iris pattern, sometimes with hemorrhages. With this disease, the iris is constricted and the pupil is constricted. There are cases where the iris fuses with the lens.
Spasm of eye accommodation (“false myopia”) is expressed by rapid fatigue and redness of the whites under any visual load. Sometimes double vision and a slight decrease in the sharpness of distance vision occur.
Cataract (clouding of the lens) is often a congenital disease. It is characterized, first of all, by the color of the pupil - it is not black, but gray or whitish. At the same time, the child’s eyelids are inflamed, he blinks frequently, cannot hold his gaze on one object, and rubs his eyes.

Main causes of eye diseases

Many visual defects appear in childhood, and the causes of the disease can be identified at an early age, and sometimes even before birth.

important It is important to know the structure of the eye and the functions it performs in order to pay attention to external signs eye disorders: notice redness, unusual look, take into account the color of the pupils, etc.

Eye diseases in children are as common as in adults. The formation of a child’s visual system is influenced by many factors, such as ecology, modern technology, a woman’s lifestyle during pregnancy, and heredity. The nature of eye diseases (etiology) in children can be different: viral diseases, injuries, burns, etc.

Their reasons may be:

genetic characteristics (cataracts, glaucoma);
intrauterine infections;
eating disorders;
prolonged strain on the child’s eyes, prolonged sitting in front of the computer, insufficient lighting when reading;
bad heredity;
transferred ;
ingress of foreign objects;
playing with pyrotechnic objects without parental supervision, etc.

From 40 to 90% of information about the world around us enters the brain through the eyes. Children with visual impairments require special attention to develop brain function.

According to WHO, every minute one child goes blind around the world. Moreover, in 75% of cases this could have been prevented, since a child’s visual apparatus develops before the age of 14. With early diagnosis, many eye diseases in children are curable.

The diseases that pediatric ophthalmologists encounter are most often acquired rather than congenital.

Common pathologies in childhood, their photos

Dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is a lack of moisture in the cornea and conjunctiva.. 50 years ago, the syndrome was considered a problem for adults, but now children also complain.

Appears due to dry air, constant eye strain, allergies, infections, and abnormalities in the structure of the eye.

Symptoms intensify in the evening or after being exposed to the wind or cold for a long time:

pain and burning;
photophobia;
feeling of eye fatigue;
the child often rubs his eyes;
complaints of blurry vision;
a network of red capillaries is visible on the protein.

Treatment is good hydration with drops and gels and mandatory elimination of the causes: getting rid of infection, changing lenses to glasses, humidified warm air. If dryness is due to allergies, help antihistamines.

Uveitis

Inflammation of the iris and choroid of the eye is called uveitis. It is caused by bacteria. Uveitis in children is a symptom of rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, viral infection, . Since the choroid of the eye nourishes the retina and is responsible for its accommodation, disorders can cause partial or complete blindness.

Rheumatic uveitis is diagnosed in children over 3 years of age. It occurs more often in girls than in boys. The chronic form worsens in spring and autumn.

Symptoms of uveitis are not noticeable at first, especially in babies who cannot talk about their feelings:

tearfulness;
fear of bright light;
redness of the eye;
vision is blurred;
the eyelid swells;
in the acute form – sharp pain.

The main symptoms of ueviitis in children are presented in the photo below:

Uveitis is treated at the initial stage with anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of drops. In severe cases, injections are given in the lower eyelid, sometimes surgery is required.

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration – dystrophic change retina due to insufficient nutrition. It is rare in children and can develop for hereditary reasons. Macular degeneration can be dry or wet.

Dry eyes form drusen - yellow pigment spots; then they merge and begin to darken.

Blackening means the death of light-sensitive cells and the development of blindness. On early stage can be cured without consequences for vision.

The wet form is more dangerous. With it, new vessels appear, which burst and cause hemorrhage in the eye, light-sensitive cells die and are not restored.

With macular degeneration, the baby complains of:

a blurred spot without pronounced contours;
disorientation in the dark;
straight lines appear curved.

Treatment of the dry form is carried out with antioxidant agents, preparations containing zinc, vitamins A and E. The wet form is treated with laser, intraocular injections, and photodynamic therapy.

Episcleritis

Episcleritis is an inflammation of the tissue that is located between the sclera and the conjunctiva of the eye.. It is rare in children. The most important symptom is severe redness white of the eye. The remaining signs are common to any inflammation of the eye: swelling, photophobia, lacrimation, headache. A rash may appear on the face.

Episcleritis goes away on its own without treatment in 5-60 days, but can become chronic. Then the disease will return. Treatment is usually symptomatic: artificial tears, chamomile rinsing, resting the eyes.

Anisocoria

Anisocoria is not considered a disease, it is a symptom, in which the difference in pupil diameter in children is greater than 1 mm (as in the photo below). This is explained by the fact that one of the pupils reacts incorrectly to irritants: light, illness, medications.

Anisocoria in a child, including infants, may indicate:

For diagnosis, diseases are excluded from the list one by one. When the cause is eliminated, the diameter of the pupils will return to normal.

Names of common ophthalmic diseases

At birth, the eyes are the least developed organ., therefore, various problems and dysfunctions can occur throughout the development of the visual system, up to 14 years.

In addition to the diseases listed above, ophthalmologists also encounter other problems in children:

, or "lazy eye"– a symptom in which one eye sees worse than the other. IN baby brain a different image arrives and is processed incorrectly.
When the underlying disease is corrected, one eye still “habitually” sees worse. Amblyopia can be treated without consequences for up to 3-4 years, while the visual areas in the brain are being formed. In older children, vision will no longer be 100% the same in both eyes.
– clouding of the lens, due to which the eye loses light sensitivity. This disease occurs in approximately 3 children out of 10,000. If it is congenital, it is diagnosed in the maternity hospital, if it develops later, it is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist at an appointment. If cataracts are not treated, complete blindness is possible. Surgery can completely restore vision.
- a contagious disease. It can be viral, bacterial or allergic in nature. It is characterized by the appearance of purulent contents that stick together the eyelashes, redness of the eyes, a feeling of pain and “sand.” Treat with antiviral or antibacterial drops depending on what caused the illness.
– bacterial inflammation of the hair follicle or sebaceous gland on the eyelid, not contagious, appears when immunity decreases. Most often it affects children from 7 to 17 years old. In adolescents during puberty, the secretion of the sebaceous gland becomes more viscous, it clogs the outlet and causes inflammation. The disease lasts about a week and ends with the opening of the abscess.
– inflammation of the cartilage due to blockage of the sebaceous gland in the upper (usually) or lower eyelid. It manifests itself as swelling and redness, then an inflamed pea appears. Most often occurs in children 5-10 years old. Treated with massage, heating, drops. If necessary, the operation is performed under local anesthesia.
Glaucoma can be congenital and secondary, includes more than 60 diseases with outflow disorders intraocular fluid. Because of this, intraocular pressure increases, which leads to optic nerve atrophy and blindness. In children it is most often congenital; after 3 years it is very rarely diagnosed. More than 50% of children diagnosed with congenital glaucoma will become blind by 2 years of age without surgery.

(myopia)– the most common eye disease in children. With this disease, the baby has trouble seeing objects located far away.
Occurs mainly in children from 9 years of age, progresses in adolescence due to rapid growth and hormonal changes.
May be due to heredity birth defects, constant eye strain, poor nutrition. Corrected with glasses or lenses.
– blurry vision of objects near. All children under 7-9 years of age are farsighted from birth, but this indicator decreases as the eye system develops. If the eyeball develops incorrectly, farsightedness does not decrease with age. Corrected by wearing glasses or contacts.
– irregular shape cornea, eye or lens. Because of this, objects appear distorted. It is treated by wearing special glasses, using orthokeratology, and from the age of 18 you can perform laser surgery.
– obstruction of patency tear ducts. Because of this, fluid accumulates in the canal and begins purulent inflammation. It can be congenital and acquired, acute and chronic. In the acute form, on day 2-3, a hole forms in the corner of the eye through which fluid breaks out.

Nystagmus– inability to fix the eyeball in one position. The vibration can be horizontal or vertical, indicating diseases of the nervous system.
It does not appear immediately, but closer to 2-3 months. In most children, nystagmus goes away on its own. In severe cases, surgery is indicated.
– weakness of the eye muscles, in which the eyes look in different directions. In the first months this is considered normal, especially in premature babies, and then it is corrected by surgery.
Neonatal retinopathy– retinal development disorder. Occurs in 20% of children born before 34 weeks weighing less than 2 kg due to the fact that the eyeball has not yet fully formed. About 30% of children survive this disease without further consequences for vision.
The rest develop complications: myopia, astigmatism, glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment.
Ptosis– weakness of the muscle that raises the upper eyelid. If this is a congenital anomaly, then most often it is combined with other diseases. The eye may close completely or just a little. This feature is corrected surgically at the age of 3-4 years.

Young children may also have problems with their eyes. Therefore, you will find articles on the following topics useful:

Even more useful information You will learn about eye diseases in children from the following video clip:

Most eye diseases in children can be successfully treated if diagnosed early. Even developing blindness can be stopped and corrected if you pay attention to signs of deteriorating vision in a child in time.

An effective remedy for restoring vision without surgery or doctors, recommended by our readers!

Eye organs - important elements in the human body. If their illness occurs, it is a clear sign that there is a problem that needs therapy. are present in the youngest patients, so it is necessary to develop special tactics eye treatments for children that will make you feel much better after just a few days of use.

Features of the treatment process of the eyes in children

Eye diseases in children include on their extensive list large number pathological processes arising in connection with psychological, physiological and anatomical factors, therefore treatment methods differ and vary. Some tactics are based on the use of a therapeutic process through medications, and some of them imply the need for surgery or in children. In young patients, many doctors note the effect precisely after using hardware therapy.

Causes of eye pathologies in children

The disease is triggered by certain causative factors:

neglect of the rules of eye hygiene while reading or studying;
staying at the computer or watching TV for a long time;
hereditary factors suggesting the presence of diseases in parents;
injuries and other mechanical damage;
abuse of certain groups of drugs.

Definition causative factor that caused the disease is half the success in the therapeutic process.

What diseases most often affect children?

No matter how much effort parents make to protect their child from external dangers, eye diseases still manifest themselves. But there are pathologies that occur most often in young patients, so in terms of therapy there is a “beaten path” that facilitates the recovery process.

Conjunctivitis

This eye disease in children involves an inflammatory process in the area of the conjunctiva, which is the thin membrane of the eye that covers the white of the eye and inner part surface of the eyelids. Called this pathology the action of a bacterial or viral infectious nature, most often the formation occurs as a result of the cold process. A disease of the visual organ of this type is detected in children of any age. The eyes turn red, tears flow, and a greenish discharge appears.

Barley

This eye disease is the most common in children because there is greatest number prerequisites that can cause it. During the course of this pathology, redness is observed in the eyelid area, a slight swelling is detected on it, and an abscess appears at the top of it. The entire inflammatory process is accompanied by a feeling of itching, pain, and increased body temperature. The development of this disease can occur in children of any age. Eye treatment in children is determined strictly by the attending physician.

Chalazion

This pathology in children is expressed by the fact that the sebaceous gland becomes clogged, and its subsequent inflammation begins. Most often, the disease acts as a damaging factor in preschool children. age category. The problem can form in the area of the top or bottom of the eyelid, sometimes it affects both eyes. The disease can act as an independent disease, although sometimes it manifests itself against the background of other processes. Symptoms: swelling and redness of the mucous membrane. Treatment for this eye disease in children must be determined by a doctor.

Myopia

This is another serious disease that affects a child. Pathology implies a disrupted process in the functioning of vision, and due to an increase in the size of the eye, the rays converge in front of the retina, which entails the formation of an insufficiently clear image. Most often, the pathology affects school-aged people due to the significant load on the visual system. Treatment of eye pathology in children must be thorough.

Macular degeneration

This is a rarer disease compared to other diseases, however, degenerative processes are hereditarily determined ailments that manifest themselves in preschool age period. From the moment the central vision disappears, a gradual progression of this pathology is observed. When immediately looking at a light source, a child may complain of unpleasant painful sensations, and during the diagnostic complex there is a possibility of noticing brown spots on the bottom of the eye. There is no 100% cure for this eye disease in children.

Destructive process in the vitreous region

The term DST is a disease that implies clouding in the area of the fibers that make up vitreous apple of the eye. This disturbance occurs in the observation of various images in the visual field, the movement of which occurs immediately after the eye movement. This process is popularly known as “floaters before the eyes.” Treatment of such an eye disease should be discussed with a specialist.

Astigmatism

This disease also occurs in children of preschool and school age. During the course of this pathological process, the phenomenon of visual impairment occurs, implying the refraction of rays in a perpendicular plane, as a result of which a distorted image is formed in the retinal area. If the difference in refractive power is large, the contours of objects are blurred. Treatment involves the use of glasses to compensate for the difference in refractive power.

All methods of treating eye diseases in children

Traditional medications for the treatment of eye diseases in children

Therapy for eye pathologies in children is extensive and multifaceted; it includes oral administration of anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as other drugs, depending on the causative factor and the nature of the inflammatory process. In addition to internal medications, antibacterial and antiviral drops, antihistamines, ointments and drop formulations are often used. Selecting the final medicinal composition depends on the location and nature of the lesion, so self-medication of the eyes in children can lead to negative consequences.

Hardware therapy methods

Children's eye diseases can be treated through the use of hardware methods associated with the impact of special devices on the affected area. Application this method makes it possible to strengthen vision and its subsequent improvement, without the need to resort to surgical intervention. There are several recommendations in the presence of which the use of this tactic is recommended:

strabismus, suggesting abnormal problems with parallelism of the visual axes;
“lazy eye” syndrome is a situation in which secondary visual function deteriorates;
problems with binocular vision - they are caused by a violation of the ability to clearly distinguish objects by both visual organs;
other congenital and acquired pathologies in a child caused by problems with vision and its functioning - myopia, farsightedness, astigmatism, asthenopia.

Traditionally, such therapy is carried out in courses, requiring 5-10 sessions. This type of treatment involves several techniques, selected individually for each infant (infant) and adult child. The therapy is carried out without contact, so it can be easily and easily tolerated even by small children.

Preventive measures

In order to prevent eye diseases and get rid of the need to find a method of treating them in children, it is necessary to instill only healthy habits from birth.

In order to prevent infection, you need to wash your hands with soap;
Ensure that children’s immunity is increased on a regular basis;
When foci of pathology penetrate, it is important to deal with their timely elimination;
If there are minimal inflammatory signs, this is a reason to see a doctor;
Conducting timely diagnosis is a significant part of the success of treatment;
Food must contain maximum quantity vitamins;
It is worth limiting the time your child spends at the computer;
Regularly performing eye exercises will improve your overall condition.

It is worth understanding that the lion's share of diseases can be cured exclusively in childhood, so it is necessary to contact a specialist in a timely manner and tell him everything about the general picture of the disease.

In secret

Incredible... You can cure your eyes without surgery!
This time.
No trips to the doctors!
That's two.
In less than a month!
That's three.

Follow the link and find out how our subscribers do it!

Signs of eye disease identified during a traditional consultative examination

eye diseases

However, in many cases, combinations of this kind are as nonspecific as individual symptoms. In particular, complaints of blurred visual fields in combination with a gradual painless decrease in visual function may indicate diseases of such different nature as cataracts, open-angle glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy, etc.

Therefore, a diagnostic search for eye diseases can be quite difficult and require the use of special equipment. To save time, money and nerves, it is better for the patient to prepare for a visit to the ophthalmologist by preparing answers to the most popular questions, such as:
1. When did the symptoms of eye disease first appear (in cases where the pathology develops gradually, it is often not so easy to remember the first minor symptoms - quickly appearing eye fatigue, spots before the eyes, eyelids sticking together in the morning, etc.);
2. What measures were taken to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, and whether there was any improvement;
3. Have any of your relatives suffered from eye diseases or eye-related diseases ( hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, increased function thyroid gland, etc.);
4. Is the patient’s work associated with occupational hazards due to vision;
5. What eye diseases and eye surgeries have you undergone?

After collecting detailed information, the ophthalmologist proceeds to examine the patient. The examination begins with the healthy eye. In cases where pathological process Both eyes are affected, traditionally starting with the right.

The doctor pays attention to the mobility of the eyes, the condition of the palpebral fissure, the position of the eyelids, then, slightly pulling the lower eyelid, examines the mucous membrane of the conjunctival cavity.

A standard examination aimed at identifying eye diseases is carried out in daylight. Consultation with an ophthalmologist, as a rule, includes the well-known procedure for determining visual acuity using special tables (Golovin-Sivtsev table or children's visometric tables). If necessary, more complex examination methods are prescribed.

What methods do ophthalmologists use to diagnose eye diseases?

additional methods

biomicroscopy (study of the optical media of eye tissues, such as the cornea, iris, anterior chamber of the eye, vitreous body, using a slit lamp);
gonioscopy (examination of the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye formed by inner surface cornea and the outer surface of the iris and ciliary body);
intraocular pressure examination;
assessment of corneal sensitivity (carried out in the “old-fashioned” way by carefully touching a cotton swab to the surface of the membrane covering the pupil in the center and four places around the periphery);
conifocal intravital microscopy of the cornea (examination of corneal tissue using a specially adapted microscope);
studies of tear production and tear drainage, which help determine the uniformity of tear distribution, the total amount of tear fluid production, and the patency of the tear ducts;
diaphanoscopy and transillumination of the eye (widely used for penetrating wounds and tumor processes of the eye, assessment of the condition of the internal structures and membranes of the eyeball using diaphanoscopes that direct light through the sclera (diaphanoscopy) or the cornea (transillumination of the eye));
ophthalmoscopy (standard method objective examination fundus);
study of the central and peripheral visual fields (study of the photosensitivity of the retina by establishing the boundaries of the visual fields and determining the usefulness of vision (absence/presence of blind spots in the visual field));
studying color vision, which is carried out using special device anomaloscope, and/or special color tables and tests;
assessment of binocular vision (friendly work of the eyes), which is used in professional selection (pilots, drivers, etc.), routine examinations, as well as in pathology of the oculomotor system (strabismus, occupational ophthalmopathy, etc.);
ultrasound examination of the eye;
fluorescein angiography of the fundus, which allows a detailed examination of the condition of the choroid of the eye by introducing a special substance fluorescein into the blood;
optical coherence tomography (OCT) – modern way studies of the optical structures of the eye, allowing to obtain information at the microscopic level;
Heidelberg retinal tomography, which uses laser scanning to obtain ultra-precise information about the condition of the optic disc and the retina as a whole;
laser polarimetry – the newest way objective examination of the condition of the optic nerve head;
electrophysiological methods, which are the study of activity visual analyzer based on changes in bioelectric potentials that occur in the cells of the cerebral cortex in response to light stimulation of the retina.

Treatment of eye diseases

How can eye diseases in people be treated?
Treatment of eye diseases with folk remedies and methods
official medicine (surgical,
physiotherapy, medication)

conservative therapy

Mostly treated surgically birth defects eye development, correct age-related changes(surgery to replace the lens for cataracts, surgical treatment senile ptosis, entropion and eversion of the eyelids), restore normal circulation of intraocular fluid in glaucoma, eliminate many malignant tumors etc.

However, most eye diseases can and should be treated without resorting to a scalpel. So the need for surgery in many cases indicates untimely intervention or inadequate treatment of pathology (infectious eye diseases, “eye” complications of diabetes mellitus, etc.).

Main methods conservative treatment eye diseases are medicinal and physiotherapeutic. The medical method refers to the treatment of eye diseases using local medications (special eye drops and ointments) and, much less frequently, general action(drugs for oral administration and injections). Physiotherapeutic treatment is the fight against an illness using physical factors (heat, electric current, magnetic field, etc.).

Modern medicine allows and welcomes the use of so-called folk remedies ( castoreum, honey, etc.) in complex treatment eye diseases. However, they should be used on the recommendation and under the supervision of the attending ophthalmologist.

What medications are there to treat eye diseases?

Anti-infective drugs are used to treat inflammatory processes caused by exposure to microorganisms. This large group of drugs includes the following types of drugs:

Antiseptics or disinfectants are drugs that do not penetrate the inner layers of the skin and mucous membrane, but have a powerful local anti-infective and anti-inflammatory effect. The most popular are Vitabact eye drops, combination drugs containing boric acid, silver salts, etc.;
Antibiotics - substances biological origin, as well as their synthetic analogues, having a pronounced antimicrobial effect. For the treatment of infectious eye diseases, the most commonly used antibiotics are from the group of chloramphenicol (chloramphenicol eye drops 0.25%), aminoglycosides (tobramycin eye drops (Tobrex)) and newest antibiotics broad action fluoroquinolones (Tsipromed eye drops (ciprofloxacin)).
Sulfonamides are a group of chemotherapy drugs that are effective against most types of bacterial infection. In ophthalmic practice, sulfonamides are represented by such a well-known drug as Albucid eye drops (sodium sulfacyl).
As antifungal drugs for the treatment of eye diseases, as a rule, drugs intended for oral administration (Nystatin tablets, etc.) are used.
Antiviral drugs used to treat eye diseases are divided into antiviral chemotherapeutic agents that directly eliminate viruses (for example, 3% Acyclovir ointment) and immune drugs that activate the body's defenses (a drug for intramuscular injections Cycloferon).

A distinction is made between steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, dexamethasone drops, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as eye drops containing 0.1% diclofenac sodium solution.

In addition, there are combination drugs with anti-infective and anti-inflammatory effects. This type of medicine includes Sofradex, Tobradex and Maxitrol drops, which are successfully used for infectious and inflammatory eye diseases with an allergic component.

Antiallergic drugs are intended for the treatment of eye diseases of allergic origin and include medications of several groups. First of all, these are so-called membrane-stabilizing drugs that prevent the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells responsible for the development of the allergic process (eye drops Lecrolin and Ketatifen).

Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac, a special cavity for collecting tear fluid located at the inner corner of the eye.

Tear fluid performs the most important function, protecting the mucous membranes of the organ of vision from drying out and the development of dangerous infectious and degenerative eye diseases. Tears are produced by a specialized lacrimal gland located in the superolateral part of the orbit.

The tear fluid is evenly distributed in the cavity of the conjunctiva, while excess tears are removed through the lacrimal canaliculi, the mouths of which open on the conjunctiva of the inner corner of the eye below.

Through the lacrimal canaliculi, the lacrimal fluid enters the lacrimal sac, which ends blindly at the top, and downwards passes into the nasolacrimal canal, which opens into the nasal cavity.

During fetal development, the opening of the nasolacrimal duct is closed, so that normally it opens with the first loud scream newborn In cases where the thin film blocking the nasolacrimal duct remains intact, there is a real threat of developing dacryocystitis in newborns.

The fact is that tear fluid is a good breeding ground for microorganisms that begin to multiply intensively in the overcrowded lacrimal sac, causing an inflammatory reaction.

Symptoms of dacryocystitis in newborns are in many ways reminiscent of signs of conjunctivitis: the affected eye begins to fester, increased lacrimation, by the morning the eyelashes may stick together.

To suspect dacryocystitis in newborns, such a characteristic symptom as damage to only one eye and increased amount tears in the conjunctival sac.

Finally, you can verify the presence of inflammation in the lacrimal sac by lightly pressing on the area of its projection ( lateral surface nose at the inner corner of the eye) - in this case, droplets of pus and/or blood will appear from the lacrimal openings, which are the mouths of the lacrimal canaliculi.

Dacryocystitis of newborns is an infectious eye disease that should not be treated with antimicrobial agents. After all, purulent inflammation is only a consequence of pathological obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct.

So the most adequate treatment for dacryocystitis in newborns is massage of the lacrimal sac, which promotes the opening of the nasolacrimal duct. This is a simple procedure, a video of which can be easily found on the Internet. With clean hands, the mother carefully presses the projection of the lacrimal sac from top to bottom.

In the vast majority of cases, with the help of regularly repeated simple manipulation, it is possible to get rid of the film covering the mouth of the nasolacrimal duct. As soon as the tear fluid stops accumulating in the lacrimal sac, the infectious process is spontaneously eliminated.

In cases where a week-long course of massage of the lacrimal sac does not lead to success, the patency of the nasolacrimal duct is restored by surgical methods (probing and washing of the lacrimal ducts, which is carried out under general anesthesia).

Eye diseases in premature babies. Retinopathy (pathology of the retina) of premature infants: causes, symptoms, treatment

Typical eye disease of newborns ahead of schedule children is retinopathy of prematurity - a severe pathology, often leading to irreparable loss of vision.

The immediate cause of retinopathy of prematurity is the immaturity of the vascular network of the retina - the inner lining of the eyeball, responsible for light perception itself.

The retinal vasculature begins to develop only at the 17th week of development. Moreover, by the 34th week of pregnancy (the gestational age is calculated from the first day of the last menstruation), the formation of the vessels located at the nasal part of the retina is completed, so that the optic disc and macula (the part of the retina responsible for best vision) are already normally supplied with blood, however temporal part the retina is still extremely poor in blood vessels. The formation of retinal vessels is completed only by the last - 40th week of gestation.

If a child is born prematurely, his still immature retina begins to be affected by many unfavorable external and internal factors, which can cause the main manifestation of retinopathy of prematurity - a disruption of the normal formation of retinal vessels, expressed in their growth inside the vitreous body of the eye.

As a result, hemorrhages form in the vitreous body, and pathological tension of the retina by improperly growing vessels leads to its local or even complete detachment, ruptures and other irreversible changes.

Retinopathy of prematurity as an eye disease varying degrees severity develops in 76% of children born at 24-25 weeks of gestation, and in 54% of children born at 26-27 weeks of gestation. At the same time, retinopathy of prematurity, which threatens retinal detachment, occurs in 5% of children born before 32 weeks of pregnancy, and the risk of developing this dangerous complication in children born at 24-25 weeks reaches 30%.

It should be noted that retinopathy of prematurity also occurs in children born at term. This happens in cases where we're talking about O unripe fruit and/or exposure to extremely aggressive factors in the first hours and days of life.

those born at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy;
born at any stage weighing less than 1500 g;
those born between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and receiving oxygen for more than 3 days;
all premature infants with episodes of complete apnea (lack of breathing requiring emergency resuscitation measures).

Active

Reverse development

full recovery

Scar period

frequent complications

cicatricial changes after retinal ruptures and detachment;
moderate or high myopia;
clouding and/or displacement of the lens;
glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure);
subatrophy of the eyeballs;
corneal dystrophy with subsequent formation of a cataract.

In the case of a real threat of detachment, ruptures or tears of the retina in this eye disease, either cryotherapy (cauterization of sprouting vessels with cold) is performed, which reduces the risk of irreversible blindness by half, or laser therapy ( laser exposure on abnormal vessels), which is just as effective, but much less painful.

What to do with dacryocystitis in a child - video

Prevention of eye diseases in adults and children

Primary and secondary prevention of eye diseases in humans

primary prevention

correct mode

Secondary prevention is measures taken for the timely detection and treatment of eye pathology (scheduled examinations by an ophthalmologist, refusal of self-medication, strict adherence all doctor's orders). Thus, if primary prevention is powerless, adequate treatment of timely identified pathology allows you to avoid severe consequences for the organ of vision and the body as a whole.

Prevention of eye diseases in children

It is necessary to adhere to a daily routine so that children's eyes are well rested during sleep. Rational lighting and teaching your child the rules of reading and writing hygiene will help protect against eye diseases.

Many children like to read while lying down, as well as while riding in transport, often using material on electronic media, which puts a significant strain on the visual organs. Parents should warn their offspring that this behavior, as well as the use of material with small fonts and poor contrast, can lead to the development of serious eye diseases.

School hygiene provides for fairly long breaks between lessons, during which it is strongly recommended to provide complete rest to the eyes. After attending school, children should go for a walk fresh air or indoors, and do homework only after a sufficient break (at least 2 hours).

Many parents ask about when watching television and working on a computer may pose a risk of eye disease. It all depends on the overall load on the organ of vision. Of course, if a student is forced to spend a lot of time studying textbooks, it is better for him to choose another type of entertainment (active games, sports clubs, walks, etc.).

Secondary prevention of eye diseases in children consists of timely completion of routine examinations by an ophthalmologist and timely referral to specialized medical care if any alarming signs appear on the part of the organ of vision.

Prevention of eye diseases in adults. How to prevent computer eye disease from developing

The most common eye disease associated with new human living conditions is computer syndrome, manifested by the following symptoms:

rapid eye fatigue;
feeling of “sand” in the eyes;
soreness of the eyeballs;
pain when moving the eyes;
redness of the eyes;
color vision disturbances;
slow refocusing of the eyes from distant objects to near ones and vice versa;
the appearance of blurred vision, double vision, headaches when long work with a computer.

social networks

empirically

Prevention of eye diseases

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Children are touching and defenseless creatures. It is especially difficult when they are sick. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to protect children from some diseases, while other diseases can be prevented. In order to after past diseases the children had no consequences, you need to promptly notice that something was wrong and consult a doctor.

Vision problems in children

Impaired quality of vision is one of the reasons for delayed development of children in the first years of life. If preschoolers' vision suffers, they cannot prepare properly for school and their range of interests is limited. Schoolchildren with low vision are associated with a decrease in academic performance and self-esteem, a limited opportunity to play their favorite sport, and choose a profession.

The child's visual system is at the stage of formation. It is very flexible and has enormous reserve capabilities. Many diseases of the visual organs can be successfully treated in childhood if they are diagnosed in a timely manner. Unfortunately, treatment that is started later may not produce good results.

Eye diseases in newborns

Many visual impairments develop due to congenital diseases. They are detected immediately after birth. After treatment, children develop better and their range of interests expands.

In newborn children, ophthalmologists diagnose the following diseases of the organ of vision:

Congenital. This is a clouding that manifests itself as decreased visual acuity and a grayish glow. Due to the disruption of the transparency of the lens, light rays cannot fully penetrate the lens. For this reason, the cloudy lens must be removed. After surgery, the child will need special glasses.
Congenital - a disease of the organ of vision in which intraocular pressure increases. This occurs due to a disruption in the development of the pathways along which the outflow occurs. Intraocular hypertension causes stretching of the membranes of the eyeball, increasing its diameter and clouding of the cornea. Compression and atrophy of the optic nerve occurs, which causes gradual loss of vision. With this disease, eye drops that reduce intraocular pressure are constantly instilled into the conjunctival sac. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical intervention is performed.
Neonatal retinopathy is a retinal disease that occurs mainly in premature babies. With this pathology, the normal growth of retinal vessels stops. They are replaced by pathological veins and arteries. The retina develops fibrous tissue and then scars. Over time, the retina occurs. At the same time, the quality of vision is impaired, sometimes the child stops seeing. Treatment of the disease is carried out using laser therapy, if it is ineffective, an operation is performed.
is a condition in which one or both eyes look in different directions, that is, they deviate from a common point of fixation. Until the fourth month of life, the nerves that control the extraocular muscles are not formed in children. For this reason, the eyes may deviate to the side. In cases where strabismus is severe, consultation with an ophthalmologist is necessary. In children, spatial perception may be impaired and develop. In order to correct strabismus, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease. For this purpose, children are prescribed special exercises to train weakened muscles, perform vision correction.
represents involuntary movements of the eyeballs either in a horizontal position or in a vertical position. They can rotate in a circle. The child is unable to fixate his gaze and does not develop high-quality vision. Treatment for this disease involves correcting visual impairment.
Ptosis is a drooping of the upper, which occurs due to underdevelopment of the muscle that lifts it. The disease can develop due to damage to the nerve that innervates this muscle. When the eyelid droops, little light penetrates into the eye. You can try to fix the eyelid with adhesive tape, but in most cases, children between the ages of 3 and 7 years old surgical correction ptosis.

Visual impairment in preschool children

Strabismus

One of the diseases that leads to impaired vision in children preschool age, is strabismus. This pathology can be caused by the following reasons:

uncorrected disorder;
decreased visual acuity in one eye;
damage to the nerves responsible for the functioning of the extraocular muscles.

If you have strabismus, the image of an object does not fall on the same areas of the eyes. In order to get a three-dimensional picture, the child cannot combine them. In order to eliminate double vision, the brain removes one eye from visual work. The eyeball, which is not involved in the process of perceiving an object, deviates to the side. This is how either a convergent squint is formed, towards the bridge of the nose, or a divergent squint, towards the temples.

It is recommended to start treatment of strabismus as early as possible. Patients are prescribed glasses that not only improve the quality of vision, but also give the eyes the correct position. In case of defeat oculomotor nerves electrical stimulation is used and exercises are prescribed to train the weakened muscle. If such treatment is ineffective, the correct position of the eyes is restored surgically. The operation is performed on children aged 3-5 years.

If one eye is tilted to the side or sees worse, amblyopia develops. Over time, visual acuity in the unused eye decreases. To treat amblyopia, the healthy eye is excluded from the visual process and the affected organ of vision is trained.

Pathology of refraction

The following refractive errors are often diagnosed in preschool children:

. It most often occurs in children aged 3 to 5 years. If hypermetropia reaches 3.5 diopters in one eye, and there is different visual acuity in both eyes, amblyopia and strabismus may develop. To correct vision, children are prescribed glasses.
The child has difficulty seeing into the distance. His visual system is unable to adapt to such an anomaly, therefore, even with a slight degree of myopia, children are prescribed glasses correction.
In this case, the image of objects located both near and far away is distorted. For this pathology, correction is prescribed with complex glasses with cylindrical lenses.

Eye diseases in schoolchildren

School-age children are also susceptible to refractive errors.

Myopia

With this visual impairment, the size of the eyeball increases or light rays are refracted excessively. They converge in front of the retina, and a blurry image is formed on it. Due to the active growth of the eyeball and increased load on the apparatus, children aged 8-14 years develop myopia. The child cannot see what is written on the school board where the ball is while playing football. To correct myopia, children are prescribed glasses with diverging lenses.

Farsightedness

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a refractive error that occurs due to the small size of the eyeball or insufficient refraction of light rays. In this case, they converge at an imaginary point located behind the retina. A fuzzy image is formed on it. Most often, farsightedness is first detected in children of ten years of age. If hypermetropia is low, then the child can clearly see objects located in the distance. Due to its good accommodative function, it clearly sees objects located at close range. Glasses are prescribed to schoolchildren if there are the following indications:

farsightedness above 3.5 diopters;
deterioration of visual acuity in one eye;
appearance when working at close range;
presence of headaches;
eye fatigue.

To correct hypermetropia, children are prescribed glasses with converging lenses.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a visual impairment in which light rays are refracted differently in two mutually perpendicular planes. As a result, a distorted image is formed on the retina of the eye. The cause of astigmatism may be uneven curvature formed as a result of a congenital abnormality of the eyeball. If the difference in refractive power does not exceed 1.0 diopter, then it is easily tolerated. In the case where astigmatism is of a higher degree, the contours of objects that are at different distances are not clearly visible. They are perceived as distorted. The difference in refractive power is compensated by complex glasses with cylindrical lenses.

With accommodation disorder, clarity of perception is lost when examining those objects that are on different distances or move relative to the observer. It develops due to a violation of the contractility of the ciliary muscle. In this case, the curvature of the lens remains unchanged. It provides clear vision only at distance or near.

In children aged 8 to 14 years, as a result of excessive stress on the eyes, it occurs. The ciliary muscle contracts and loses its ability to relax. The lens becomes convex. It provides good near vision. In this case, schoolchildren have difficulty seeing into the distance. This condition is also called false myopia. When there is a spasm of accommodation, children perform gymnastic exercises for the eyes and are prescribed instillation of special drops.

Convergence insufficiency is an impairment in the ability to direct and maintain the visual axes of both eyeballs on an object that is at close range or moves towards the eye. In this case, one or both eyeballs deviate to the side, causing double vision. Convergence can be improved with special exercises.

If the patient is unable to combine two images that are formed on the retina of the left and right eyes in order to obtain a three-dimensional picture, a binocular vision disorder develops. This happens due to differences in the clarity or size of the images, as well as when they fall on different parts of the retinas. In this case, the patient sees two images simultaneously, which are offset from one another. To correct diplopia, the brain can suppress the image that forms on the retina of one eye. In this case, vision becomes monocular. In order to restore binocular vision, it is necessary, first of all, to correct visual impairment. The result is achieved through long-term training collaboration both eyes.

What else can be done to restore a child’s vision?

For refractive errors in children (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism), as well as strabismus and amblyopia, most ophthalmologists prescribe courses hardware treatment that give good effect. If earlier, for this, young patients and their parents needed to visit the clinic, wasting time on travel and queues (and sometimes nerves and money), but now, with the development of technology, a whole range of effective and safe devices have appeared that can be used at home. The devices are small in size, affordable and easy to use.

The most popular and effective devices for home use

Sidorenko glasses (AMBO-01)- the most advanced device for self-use by the patient when various diseases eye. Combines color pulse therapy and vacuum massage. Can be used both in children (from 3 years old) and in elderly patients.

Vizulon- a modern color pulse therapy device, with several programs, which allows it to be used not only for the prevention and complex treatment of vision diseases, but also for pathologies of the nervous system (migraines, insomnia, etc.). Available in several colors.

The most famous and popular eye device based on color pulse therapy methods. It has been produced for about 10 years and is well known to both patients and doctors. Different low price and ease of use.