PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY
SPECIALISTS IN CHILDREN'S OPHTHALMOLOGY
KEY FACTS ABOUT CHILDREN'S OPHTHALMOLOGY
Paediatric ophthalmology is an ophthalmological subspecialty dedicated to young children.
Human beings begin their visual development in the mother’s womb and do not finish evolving until they are 8-9 years old. For this reason, the early years are essential for good eye health. A complete ophthalmological examination is recommended both at the beginning and at the end of the school year.
The main eye diseases that can be found in children are refractive errors (such as myopia, astigmatism or hyperopia), congenital cataracts, amblyopia (lazy eye, which affects 4% of children) and strabismus. The first symptoms of ocular pathology in children can be, tendency to deflect an eye or both, inclination of the head to get a better fixation, problems to read the blackboard, etc. All these problems, if they re not treated in time, can lead to a child’s poor school performance.
If the child does not present any important ocular pathology, annual ophthalmological examinations should be carried out.
