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HEALTH & WELL-BEING<br />
Eye Issues In Kids<br />
Besides struggling with near or farsightedness,<br />
your child may also<br />
suffer from other eye problems such<br />
as amblyopia and strabismus. When<br />
diagnosed early, these eye problems can<br />
be successfully treated.<br />
• The Lazy Eye (amblyopia) is caused<br />
by crossed eyes and a difference in the<br />
refractive error between the two eyes.<br />
This eye disorder is best treated during<br />
the pre-school years as it can become<br />
irreversible at a later stage in life.<br />
• Misaligned Eyes (strabismus) refer to<br />
eyes that may turn inwards, outwards,<br />
up or down. Sometimes, misaligned eyes<br />
may also be diagnosed together with a<br />
lazy eye. Eyes can be realigned through<br />
surgery or specially designed glasses that<br />
can train the eyes to re-align themselves.<br />
• Blur vision is known as refractive errors<br />
that occurs when the eye cannot refract<br />
or bend the light properly, thereby<br />
causing images to look blurred or<br />
unclear. In severe cases, blur visions can<br />
also cause lazy eye symptoms as well.<br />
Refractive errors can be separated in<br />
three separate disorders:<br />
»»<br />
Nearsightedness is also known as<br />
myopia and is simply treated with<br />
prescribed glasses or contact lenses.<br />
Most school-aged children with<br />
myopia have poor long distance vision.<br />
»»<br />
Farsightedness is known as<br />
hyperopia and is simply treated with<br />
prescribed glasses or contact lenses.<br />
Mature adults with hyperopia suffer<br />
from poor short distance vision.<br />
»»<br />
Astigmatism refers to the imperfect<br />
curvature of the front surface of the<br />
eye that can cause blurred vision. Like<br />
myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism<br />
can be treated with prescribed glasses<br />
and contact lenses.<br />
Eye-care habits for<br />
healthier eyes<br />
Myopia in children is either hereditary or<br />
caused by environmental factors. Here<br />
are some proactive measures any parent<br />
can easily adapt to at home to decrease<br />
the risk of their children developing<br />
bad eyesight:<br />
• Watch The Eyes: Hours of starring<br />
at the television set, hand phone or<br />
computer can be damaging to the<br />
eyes as these electronic devices emit<br />
long electromagnetic waves that can<br />
be harmful to the pupils. The easiest<br />
method of limiting your child’s exposure<br />
to infrared rays is to encourage lots of<br />
outdoor playtime. However, do note that<br />
the sun also emits ultraviolet rays that<br />
can be harmful to your child’s eyes as<br />
well. Before 11am or after 5pm are best<br />
times for playing outside.<br />
164<br />
SmartKids World Vol. 09
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