Astigmatism in children. Causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention. Optical correction of astigmatism in children

The normal eyeball, as is known, has a spherical shape and two poles: anterior and posterior. Mentally, several meridians can be drawn through these poles. Perpendicular meridians with the greatest difference in refraction are called principal. For example, imagine a watch dial - the lines connecting 12 and 6 o'clock, and 9 and 3 o'clock are the main meridians. Astigmatism is a violation of the sphericity of the eye, or more precisely the cornea or lens, in which there is a noticeable difference in the refraction of the main meridians, which leads to decreased vision. In this case, the image on the retina is projected distorted, for example, a point may appear as a line or an ellipse.

Causes of astigmatism in children

More often, astigmatism is associated with a violation of the sphericity of the cornea, less often - with irregular curvature of the lens. Lens astigmatism rarely occurs in large degrees. In a healthy eye, the cornea and lens focus light rays directly onto the retina:

With astigmatism, light rays are focused in front of and behind the retina:

this entails visual impairment.

Astigmatism is common in healthy children. Its incidence increases with age. A person may not notice a little astigmatism, but higher degrees of astigmatism can cause blurred vision, squinting, dizziness and headaches. Some studies indicate some connection between the presence of astigmatism and the occurrence of migraines.

A high degree of astigmatism often accompanies such common diseases as albinism, retinitis pigmentosa, and fetal alcohol syndrome. With astigmatism, concomitant eye pathology may be present: corneal pathology, for example, keratoconus; optic nerve hypoplasia; ptosis; congenital motor nystagmus.

Astigmatism can be both physiological and pathological. With physiological astigmatism, the difference in the refractions of the two main meridians is no more than 1 diopter, which does not affect visual acuity and, accordingly, does not require treatment. The occurrence of this type of astigmatism is associated with deformation of the eyeball due to its uneven growth. With pathological astigmatism, the difference in refraction is more than 1 diopter, which, accordingly, entails a decrease in vision.

There are congenital and acquired astigmatism. More often there is congenital astigmatism, which is a consequence of a congenital disorder of the sphericity of the cornea or lens. The immediate causes of congenital astigmatism are unknown. The influence of a hereditary factor on the occurrence of this pathology is assumed. Acquired astigmatism is often a consequence of corneal scars resulting from certain eye diseases, injuries, and operations; The cause may also be subluxation of the lens with rupture of the zonules.

Also, astigmatism can appear with pathology of the dental system, in which deformation of the walls of the orbit often occurs.

In addition, astigmatism can be regular or irregular.

With correct astigmatism, one of the main meridians refracts light rays most strongly, and the other most weakly. There are several types of regular astigmatism:

Simple hypermetropic - the refraction of one main meridian is normal, and the second is hypermetropic;
simple myopic - the refraction of one main meridian is normal, and the second is myopic;
complex hypermetropic - in both main meridians the refraction is hypermetropic, but of varying degrees;
complex myopic - in both main meridians the refraction is myopic, but of varying degrees;
mixed - in one meridian the refraction is myopic, and in the other it is hypermetropic.
Astigmatism is called incorrect if:
the transition from the refraction of one main meridian to another is not smooth, but abrupt;
the main meridians are not perpendicular to each other;
different parts of the same meridian have different refraction.

The degree of astigmatism can be judged by determining the difference in refractions in both main meridians.
As a rule, irregular astigmatism develops as a result of past inflammatory processes of the cornea, which resulted in a violation of its sphericity, or severe postoperative scarring; Irregular astigmatism can also be caused by keratoconus.

The acuity of an astigmatic eye decreases and the image becomes distorted. Patients with astigmatism are looking for ways to improve their vision on their own, for example, squinting, pulling the outer commissure of the eyelids with a finger, or tilting their head.

Diagnosis of astigmatism in children

Astigmatism can be detected in a child already during the first examination by an ophthalmologist: at 3 months. After clarifying complaints, medical history, and conducting an external examination of the eyes, the doctor performs skiascopy, with the help of which he confirms or excludes the presence of astigmatism (the skiascopy method is described in detail in the article “Amblyopia”). In older children, it is possible to diagnose astigmatism using the autorefractometry method (a method for determining visual acuity using a device - an autorefractometer).

Older children complain of blurry, unclear vision, distorted lines, headaches, and dizziness, especially when reading or other visual stress. Also, the occurrence of strabismus may be associated with the presence of astigmatism.

In children from 3 years of age, visual acuity must be checked using a table, and astigmatism is determined using cylindrical lenses. Applying a weak cylindrical lens to the eye, the doctor begins to rotate it, while he finds a position in which distance visual acuity becomes better. After this, the doctor increases the strength of the cylinder. Using this method, you can preliminary judge the type and degree of astigmatism. But, of course, to clarify the diagnosis, skiascopy or autorefractometry is necessary.

The keratometry method allows you to identify and evaluate the degree of curvature of the meridians of the outer surface of the cornea.

Computer topography of the cornea is a modern method that allows you to create a three-dimensional image of the cornea and more accurately assess the degree of its curvature, thickness and shape. This is an absolutely painless method; in addition, this examination is carried out at a distance from the eye, i.e. contactless.

Astigmatism is a serious pathology that should be identified in a child as early as possible, because if left untreated, astigmatism can lead to the development of amblyopia and strabismus.

Conservative and surgical methods are used in the treatment of astigmatism. As a rule, surgical treatment is not used until the age of 18.

Children are prescribed glasses or contact correction.

Irregular astigmatism, as a rule, cannot be corrected with glasses, therefore, with this type of astigmatism in children, only contact correction is applicable.

Astigmatic glasses are distinguished by the presence of cylinders, which correct astigmatism. For simple astigmatism, only cylindrical lenses are used, and for complex and mixed astigmatism, spherocylindrical lenses are used, combining a sphere and a cylinder. A spherical lens refracts rays along all meridians, and the refraction of light rays by a cylinder occurs in a direction perpendicular to its axis. When correcting a meridian, the cylinder is installed perpendicular to it. The refractive power of the cylinder must correspond to the degree of astigmatism.

In older children, the optimal method for correcting any type of astigmatism is contact correction, which is the best method of correction for astigmatism, as it eliminates certain disadvantages of spectacle correction. This, in turn, contributes to the clearest image of objects on the retina. But contact lenses require careful handling and certain care, which must be taken into account when prescribing contact correction for children, especially boys.

There is another method for correcting astigmatism - the orthokeratology method. This method involves temporarily wearing hard contact lenses, which temporarily correct the curvature of the cornea. These lenses are mainly worn while sleeping. During this time, the cornea takes on a more regular shape, which improves vision. But this effect is temporary and over time the cornea returns to its original shape and vision deteriorates again. The orthokeratology method is applicable only for astigmatism not exceeding 1.5 diopters. This method is suitable for children and adolescents who categorically refuse to wear glasses or contact lenses.

When the child becomes an adult, surgical and laser vision correction is possible (provided there is no amblyopia).

The degree of congenital astigmatism usually decreases during the first year of a child’s life. By the age of 7, in most children, in the absence of concomitant corneal pathology, for example, keratoconus, the degree of astigmatism usually stabilizes. It is possible that the degree of astigmatism may either increase or decrease with age.

If astigmatism is detected in a timely manner and glasses are prescribed, the prognosis for vision is favorable.
If large degrees of astigmatism are not treated, amblyopia and refractive strabismus may develop (for more information on the diagnosis and treatment of amblyopia and strabismus, see the relevant articles).

Ophthalmologist E.A. Odnoochko

Greetings to my faithful readers!

The word “astigmatism” always scared me, because for a long time I could not understand the essence and causes of this phenomenon.

And then I recently learned that it turns out that this disorder is often found in newborn babies. True, with age, many children “outgrow” astigmatism, but there are cases when it can lead to complications.

My daughter is almost a year old, and, of course, it is not yet possible to fully check her vision. So that, God forbid, I do not miss the signs of childhood astigmatism, I want to learn as much as possible about this visual impairment right now.

And a very informative article will help me with this, which I recommend you read too. As they say, forewarned is forearmed.

What is astigmatism in a child?

Astigmatism is the inability of the eye to focus light rays on the retina to produce a clear image due to the irregular shape of the front surface of the eye (cornea).

Astigmatism in children is not a disease. Astigmatism, along with myopia (or myopia) and hypermetropia (farsightedness), refers to the so-called refractive errors of the eye. Very often, astigmatism is accompanied by myopia or hypermetropia.

Since astigmatism is not a disease, it is not treated (it is wrong to search on the Internet for an answer to the query “Treatment of astigmatism in children”), but is corrected (corrected) using special contact or spectacle lenses or surgically.

The use of these vision correction means allows you to obtain a clear image on the retina.

When does it appear?

Astigmatism can occur in a child at any age, as the child’s body (including the eyes) continues to develop. During the development process, a malfunction may occur, as a result of which the shape of the cornea becomes irregular.

The risk of astigmatism exists even in infants under 1 year of age. Many children have astigmatism from birth, which is why it is so important to have children's vision checked regularly.

Causes

The cornea of a normal eye is spherical in shape. The spherical surface of the cornea ensures correct focusing of light rays and forms a clear image of the object on the retina of the eye.

With astigmatism, the shape of the cornea resembles the surface of a melon (the curvature of its surface in two mutually perpendicular sections is different). Light rays that form an image of an object are refracted differently when passing through such a cornea, and therefore the image turns out blurry.

Astigmatism in children is most often congenital, i.e. its appearance is predetermined by the genes of the child. The non-spherical shape of the cornea is a consequence of improper development of the child’s eye, the course of which is programmed genetically.

Astigmatism can also occur in a child as a result of eye injury and after eye surgery.

How to quickly check if your child has astigmatism at home?

1. Increase the size of the image shown.
2. Closing one eye, the child looks at the drawing from an arm's length distance.
3. Ask him if he sees some lines worse than others (some lines look lighter, others darker).
4. If so, he may need astigmatism correction. It is necessary to have your child's vision checked by an ophthalmologist.

Source http://www.optica4all.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1672&Itemid=385

Depending on the location of the foci, childhood astigmatism can be:

simple,
difficult,
mixed.

Astigmatism options:

farsighted astigmatism in children;
myopic astigmatism in children;
mixed astigmatism in children.

Moreover, nearsighted astigmatism is also called myopic, and farsighted is called hypermetropic astigmatism in children.

Classification

If the cornea is irregularly shaped, there may be many meridians along which the light beam moves. But there are usually two main meridians - vertical and horizontal, which are always located perpendicular to each other.

Based on the state of vision, various types of astigmatism are identified in these meridians.

If the main pathology is located on the vertical meridian, then astigmatism is considered direct, on the horizontal - reverse.

In addition, astigmatism in children can be nearsighted, farsighted or mixed. Myopic (myopic) astigmatism in a child, in turn, it is divided into simple and complex.

Simple myopic astigmatism characterized by the fact that one of the main meridians of the eye has normal refraction (its focus is located on the retina), and the other is myopic (its focus is located in front of the retina). WITH false astigmatism in children characterized by myopic refraction of rays in the region of both main meridians, but the foci are located at different distances from the retina (in front of it).

Farsighted astigmatism (hyperopic astigmatism) There are also two types - simple and complex. Simple hyperopic astigmatism lies in the fact that one of the main meridians of the eye has normal refraction, and the other is farsighted (the focus is located behind the retina). Compound hyperopic astigmatism in children it is characterized by farsighted refraction of rays in the region of both main meridians, but the foci are located at different distances from the retina (behind it).

Mixed astigmatism is a combination of nearsighted astigmatism on one main meridian with farsightedness on the other. Astigmatism can occur in one eye or in both eyes.

Source http://www.womenhealthnet.ru/children-diseases/6511.html

Myths

1.Glasses are forever.

With some types of astigmatism, in many cases children can get rid of constant wearing of glasses. If the degree of astigmatism is high, then after amblyopia is cured, excimer laser correction is used, allowing teenagers to get rid of glasses.

2.Astigmatism is completely cured.

Since there is a congenital defect of the cornea, the defect cannot be corrected using conservative methods. Visual acuity can be improved by mobilizing the structures inside the eye that are responsible for focusing the image. That is, astigmatism is compensated. The disease can be cured only with the help of excimer laser correction.

3.Laser vision glasses.

If you wear polydiaphragm glasses regularly, their manufacturers promise to get rid of all eye diseases. But the therapeutic effect has not been proven, although there is no harm either.

4.Preparations with blueberries.

Typically, these tablets are dietary supplements or multivitamin sets. This means that they have not undergone clinical trials. Therefore, they are not used in pediatric ophthalmology.

Source http://tvoelechenie.ru/oftalmologiya/astigmatizm-u-detej-lechenie.html

Complications of childhood astigmatism

Astigmatism causes much more harm to children than to adults. Due to the fact that a child sees images out of focus from childhood, there is a delay in the development of the visual system as a whole. The functioning of visual cells deteriorates, which leads to progressive loss of vision due to the development of amblyopia.

This vision defect is often called the “lazy eye,” which is not entirely true, since in this situation it is not the eye itself that is lazy, but the brain cells responsible for vision. In this situation, even with the use of glasses, it is difficult for a child to achieve 100% vision.

Treatment of astigmatism complicated by amblyopia in children requires an individual approach for each individual case. Therapeutic measures must be comprehensive and include various methods of influence (optical, physical, functional).

Source http://www.ayzdorov.ru/lechenie_astigmatizm_deti.php

How to recognize?

Childhood astigmatism is quite difficult to diagnose, especially before the age of two. This is due to the fact that children rarely complain about vision problems for one simple reason - they do not yet understand that they see poorly, getting used to perceiving the world around them in a stretched or double form, they consider this the norm.

Children with astigmatism may not say that they see blurred images or letters, but instead simply complain of headaches or show reluctance to read, write, or other near visual activities.

Parents most often mistake this behavior for the whims or character traits of their children.

Symptoms

Parents should closely monitor their child and take him to see a doctor for a complete eye exam if at least one of the following is present. symptoms of astigmatism in children:

Blurry image, ghosting;
Dizziness;
Fatigue, eye strain;
Headaches, especially in the forehead above the eyebrows;
Difficulty focusing on printed text;
The child squints his eyes or tilts his head at different angles to see better;
Complaints of difficulty reading books or reading text written on the blackboard in class.

It happens that a slight degree of astigmatism in children does not require correction and goes away on its own as they grow older. But you shouldn’t count on that alone.

If there are any signs that your child may have vision problems, you should contact a specialist.

If an unclear image is projected onto the retina for a long time, this will not allow visual functions to fully develop or will lead to a decrease in existing ones.

During the first year of life, intensive development of vision occurs, so the child needs to visit an ophthalmologist at 3 months, at 6 months and at one year.

Treatment of childhood astigmatism

The anatomical and functional formation and development of the eyeball continues up to 14-15 years, so it is necessary to begin treating childhood astigmatism as early as possible (while the optical system is developing), its effectiveness and the ability to avoid concomitant visual impairment largely depend on this.

If parents did not notice the symptoms of deteriorating vision in the child and did not consult a specialist in time, if an incorrect diagnosis was made and incorrect or incomplete treatment was prescribed, if patients do not comply with the doctor’s instructions, complications are possible.

Although astigmatism itself does not progress from lack of treatment, other diseases can develop, the occurrence of which it contributes to - asthenopia (rapid eye fatigue and the resulting decrease in visual acuity), amblyopia (cells of the visual cortex do not develop, as a result of which the brain refuses to process the signal coming from the eyes ), strabismus.

Low visual acuity, which is observed in a child without treatment or with incomplete correction, delays the formation of stereoscopic and binocular vision.
There are several treatment options for adults, but options for treating astigmatism in children are more limited.

The most well-known and widespread method is spectacle correction of astigmatism. Glasses with special cylindrical lenses are prescribed for children to wear constantly.

The first days of wearing glasses, a child may experience visual discomfort and headaches, but, as a rule, these symptoms disappear within a week, when they get used to the glasses. If, after two weeks of constant wearing, the child continues to complain of headaches and dizziness, parents should consult a doctor; perhaps the glasses were not chosen correctly.

When choosing glasses, you should also carefully consider the choice of frames, as they can cause fatigue. It is important to regularly visit an ophthalmologist, monitor the growth and development of the eyes and change optics in a timely manner.

Despite its popularity and accessibility, this method has a number of disadvantages that affect the quality of a child’s vision: glasses limit lateral vision, spatial perception, do not provide the opportunity to correct vision 100%, and are an obstacle to active sports. In addition, incorrectly selected glasses can cause constant eye fatigue.

Also Contact lenses help correct childhood astigmatism. With contact vision correction, the above disadvantages are absent. The quality of the child’s vision not only improves, but also more correct development of the visual centers is observed. Therefore, in some cases, contact lenses are the most preferred method of treatment.

However, it is only applicable for older children who can already insert lenses into their eyes themselves. It can only cause harm to small children - when trying to insert a foreign body into the eye of a child who is escaping from his hands, there is a high probability of seriously injuring the cornea.

Due to the fact that the child’s eyes grow and develop, surgical correction is not possible. Only after vision has stabilized (after 18 years) can the disease be eliminated using laser eye surgery.

To treat astigmatism in children under 18 years of age, surgery can be used only as a last resort for medical reasons.

Glasses and contact lenses are the most common methods for correcting astigmatism. They must be selected individually and changed periodically as the eyes develop. Although in many cases childhood astigmatism can be cured by adolescence, it must be remembered that glasses and contact lenses are not a cure and do not guarantee a cure, they only correct vision defects, which allows visual functions to develop properly.

Since astigmatism is caused by a curvature of the cornea, it can only be eliminated through surgery to correct the curvature.

Source http://astigmatizma.ru/astigmatizm-u-detej/astigmatizm-u-detej.html

Operational

However, wearing glasses is not a treatment, but only vision correction. It is only possible to completely get rid of astigmatism through surgical correction. But since active processes of child growth, including the visual system, continue until the age of 16, surgical treatment of astigmatism is possible only after 20 years, taking into account all the features of the course of the disease.

The following surgical operations are possible:

keratotomy - applying non-through incisions to the cornea to weaken refraction along the enhanced axis. This operation is used for myopia or mixed astigmatism;
thermokeratocoagulation - cauterization of the peripheral zone of the cornea with a heated metal needle, while the curvature of the cornea increases, and, therefore, its refractive power increases. The operation is performed to correct farsighted astigmatism.

After 18 years of age, with mild astigmatism, laser correction is possible, but it has a number of contraindications (unstable vision, scars on the retina, inflammatory eye diseases, etc.).

Source http://malutka.net/astigmatizm-u-detei

Every parent wants to see their baby healthy and incredibly happy. As soon as the diagnosis of astigmatism is announced, many people get scared. There is no need to panic, the problem is not a full-fledged disease, there are many ways to solve it.

It is important to identify the cause of the pathology and begin treatment. After the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately; you should not self-medicate.

general information

Astigmatism in a baby is the inability of the eye to focus light rays on the retina, resulting in a defective image. The process starts due to the irregular shape of the front surface of the baby's eye (cornea). Pathology in children is not a disease; the problem is compared to myopia or farsightedness; doctors attribute astigmatism to refractive errors of the eye.

If the pathology is not a disease, then treatment is not necessary; doctors recommend adjustments that improve the baby’s vision and eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Astigmatism can appear at any age, because the child’s body is constantly in the stage of growth and development, and sometimes the retina does not form correctly.

The risk of pathology is present even in infants. In very young children, it is quite difficult to identify the problem, so it is very important to regularly check the vision of young children. Preventive measures will help protect the baby from negative consequences and unpleasant symptoms.

Causes

Most often, the pathology develops against the background of improper formation of the cornea, but medical practice has information about the curvature of the lens, which provoked the appearance of astigmatism in the eyes. Treatment almost does not depend on the cause of the problem; in some cases, it is simply important to know the risks and protect the baby more carefully.

Astigmatism is divided into two main types (depending on the cause of its appearance):

congenital. The pathology can appear immediately after birth or develop in the first year of the baby’s life. The color of the cornea and the shade of the hair are formed at the same genetic level as the curvature of the cornea and the specific shape of the eyeball. Many parameters in a child’s body are determined at the genetic level. Parents who have such problems need to carefully monitor their baby’s vision from birth;
acquired. Astigmatism can appear as a result of improperly performed surgery in the eye area, any injury, or illness. As a result of such “intrusions,” scarring is formed, a violation of the correct shape of the cornea.

Sometimes pathology is observed in children whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy. Medical practice has described many cases of astigmatism in children who have problems with the dental system.

Possible complications

Congenital pathology provokes blurriness of objects from the birth of the baby. The problem leads to improper development of the visual system, incorrect functioning of different parts of the brain, because all parts of the human body are closely interconnected. A “breakdown” in one area leads to developmental anomalies as a whole.

The absence of any therapeutic manipulations for astigmatism leads to a decrease in the baby’s visual acuity, as a result, the appearance of amblyopia (an ailment in which vision correction with glasses or special contact lenses does not help restore the normal functioning of the visual organs). If you contact a pediatric ophthalmologist in time, the chances of a positive outcome are much greater.

Signs and symptoms

At the slightest unpleasant symptoms, immediately visit an ophthalmologist. Only an experienced specialist will identify the cause of a sharp deterioration in vision and help cope with the pathology.

Clinical picture and symptoms of astigmatism:

The baby's eyes periodically turn red and swell a little;
when looking at small objects, the baby squints and moves closer to the object;
Children after 5–6 years of age may complain of headaches and dizziness. Younger guys cannot give an accurate explanation of their feelings;
all objects seem blurry and unclear to the baby. The symptom is acutely felt during acquired astigmatism;
While reading, working with small objects, the baby complains of pain in the eyes and other unpleasant sensations.

Note! Some parents may attribute the child’s complaints to whims, but constant vision problems in a child are a serious reason to visit a doctor. A correct diagnosis accounts for 50% of successful recovery.

How to identify the problem at home

The severity of pathology in an infant is determined using special drops. If astigmatism is detected, the doctor prescribes the necessary course of correction. In older children, the problem is detected by autorefractometry.

There is a proven method with which caring parents can identify pathology at home and begin treatment in the early stages. For this follow the instructions below:

enlarge the picture several times;
let the baby look at the image, then close one eye, then the other;
if the child says that some lines look lighter, others darker, the process indicates the presence of astigmatism;
If a problem is detected, confirm the diagnosis with an ophthalmologist.

Types of pathology

Astigmatism is divided into several types depending on the complexity: simple form, moderate, severe. There is another classification based on the state of vision:

farsightedness. The simple form is characterized by the fact that in one meridian vision is normal, while the other eye has farsightedness. Part of the light beam is localized on the retina, the rest behind it. Complex pathology includes different farsightedness of the main meridians of the baby’s eyes. All light rays are focused in front of the retina;
myopia. The simple form involves one eye that sees normally, but the other has an incorrectly located meridian. Light rays are focused behind and in front of the retina. With a complex appearance, both meridians are disrupted. The light is focused in front of the baby's retina;
mixed astigmatism. The baby has difficulty perceiving objects that are located far and close. Both meridians of the eye contain elements of myopia and farsightedness. The image is focused in front of and behind the retina, so the baby sees the same picture from different angles at the same time, which provokes problems with normal perception of the outside world.

One eye or both can suffer from the disease; it all depends on the individual characteristics of the child’s body and the influence of external negative factors.

Myths about astigmatism

Many people have heard about astigmatism, people believe in various fables. The main myths are given below, Don't fall for false information:

You can't go anywhere without glasses. Some people think that the diagnosis obliges the child to wear glasses all his life. The statement is fundamentally incorrect; modern technologies (laser correction) make it possible to do without glasses. Sometimes the baby outgrows the disease with the help of conservative treatment;
blueberry-based medicines. The fruit is credited with medicinal properties in the field of vision, but there is no scientifically proven evidence for this phenomenon. Such medications are not used to treat children's ophthalmological problems;
laser vision glasses Modern technologies provide many ways to get rid of the problem. Manufacturers of such devices claim that the products will eliminate all problems. As in the previous case, no reliable clinical studies were conducted; no positive results or negative effects were identified.

Is it possible to cure the disease?

Astigmatism in children can be cured by the child on their own, most often the process occurs within one year after the onset of the problem. The eyeball is formed before the age of 15, so surgical intervention is recommended only after the age of 18 if the situation worsens.

Moderate and severe forms must be treated, regardless of the presence of symptoms. Such measures ensure the absence of complications and the complete recovery of the baby. The main thing is to identify astigmatism in time and begin to solve the problem.

In some cases, it is difficult to completely cure the pathology, but many patients restore visual function and do not feel any discomfort. It is quite possible to completely get rid of astigmatism only through laser correction.

On the page, find out the instructions for using Bobotik drops for colic in babies.

General rules and methods of therapy

There are various ways to cope with the pathology; surgical intervention is indicated in advanced cases.

Doctors identify several main methods for treating astigmatism in children:

contact lenses. Special devices do not limit peripheral vision and cope with the task perfectly. At first, lenses cause discomfort, especially when putting them on or taking them off. Then the unpleasant sensations disappear;
complex glasses. They do a good job of correcting vision, but can cause headaches and tearing. Over time, the discomfort disappears, but if it lasts more than three weeks, you should consult a doctor for other glasses;
orthokeratology. Copes with vision correction through the use of hard special lenses. They are worn only at night, vision is normal for some time, if you stop using the devices, the problem returns.

Gymnastics and exercises

You can cope with astigmatism without various devices. Useful gymnastics improves the effect of corrective products; in case of a mild form of the disease, you can cope with it yourself:

first let the baby look into the distance, then focus on a nearby object (no further than 30 cm);
close your eyes one at a time, look at nearby objects;
several times a day, let the baby close his eyes and make a figure eight;
lightly massage your baby's closed eyes;
take regular breaks during games, let your baby rest. With your eyes closed, move them up and down.

Prevention measures

By reducing the load on the visual apparatus and ensuring normal working conditions for the baby, the likelihood of astigmatism is reduced to zero:

Make sure your baby alternates periods of work and rest. This aspect especially concerns games or studying on the computer;
for preventive purposes, do eye exercises (exercises described above);
at the child’s workplace, set the light correctly (on the left side, the best option is natural light);
If you detect any unpleasant symptoms, immediately contact an ophthalmologist.

Astigmatism is not a death sentence; many children successfully get rid of the pathology and live full lives. Only advanced severe cases oblige the child to wear glasses all his life. Check your baby's vision regularly and do not self-medicate.

Video - tips on how to treat astigmatism in children:

Eye problems are a common occurrence that affects young children too. Astigmatism is one of the diagnoses that is regularly given to children and frightens caring parents.

The disease is complicated by accompanying visual defects, so it is important to identify abnormalities in a timely manner. With timely treatment, vision stabilization is possible.

Causes of the disease in one-year-old children

Astigmatism can be congenital or acquired.

In infants under one year of age, the congenital form predominates, often due to the presence of such a diagnosis in one of the parents or grandparents. Read more about the disease in newborns and children under one year old.

If among your immediate family there is a person with the same visual impairment, observation should begin as early as possible.

Congenital astigmatism can be caused by problems during pregnancy and, as a result, not entirely correctly formed organs of vision.

The congenital form of the defect often provokes amblyopia: As a result of an incorrect picture entering the part of the brain responsible for vision, “lazy eye” syndrome appears. Then the visual function may stop developing.

The acquired form basically has the following reasons:

eye surgery;
trauma to the visual organ;
deformation of the walls of the orbit as a result of pathologies in the structure of the dental system;
a number of diseases accompanied by changes in the shape of the cornea - drooping of the upper eyelid - these are ptosis, optic nerve hypoplasia, retinitis pigmentosa, albinism, nystagmus, keratotonus.

The most common cause of pathology in one-year-old babies is genetic predisposition.

Main signs of the disease

The diagnosis is made during a routine examination in one year. This disease is rarely diagnosed before one year of age.

The reason is that newborns often have deviations in the focusing of vision; the cornea is not fully formed.

This phenomenon can be compared with mild astigmatism, but this is a physiological phenomenon. Vision returns to normal just in time for the first birthday.

During a routine examination when visiting a pediatric ophthalmologist at one year of age you can definitely say whether there are deviations or everything is within normal limits.

However, there are a number of signs of astigmatism in a one-year-old child, in which you should not wait for a scheduled appointment and it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

At the age of 1 year, the baby still does not know how to talk and will not be able to tell his parents what bothers him, how he sees objects.

If you observe his behavior for some time, you may notice alarming symptoms:

a child who can move independently constantly touches or hits the corners of objects;
tries to tilt his head or squints his eyes when trying to see a toy or picture;
red or constantly watery eyes.

All these symptoms may indicate the presence of a non-physiological abnormality in the child. However, only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.

For more information about astigmatism, see these articles:

Diagnostic methods

A pediatric ophthalmologist diagnoses visual impairments.. For babies aged 1 year, the only way to test is to instill eye drops.

There is also a retinoscopy method, in which a beam of light is directed at the eyes, but this method is quite problematic in the case of small children.

The doctor determines the presence or absence of astigmatism, its type and degree. The disease is classified by type, but according to different indicators.

Depending on which part of the eye causes image distortion, corneal and lenticular astigmatism are distinguished. Disturbances in the structure of the cornea are more common.

There are also simple, complex and mixed types of pathology:

simple - astigmatism is present in one eye, aggravated by myopia or farsightedness;
complex - both eyes are susceptible to pathology in combination with myopic or hypermetropic;
mixed - as in the previous case, both eyes are affected, but in one eye there is myopia, in the other there is farsightedness.

The degree of the disease is determined depending on the dioptres:

up to three - weak degree;
from three to six - average;
six or more - strong.

Only taking into account the degree of the defect and its type, the ophthalmologist will be able to prescribe treatment.

Treatment options

So what to do if a child shows signs of astigmatism at 1 year of age?

With a mild degree of the disease, not complicated by farsightedness or myopia, special correction is not required. The parents' job is to monitor their child's behavior. and go for regular checkups with your eye doctor.

You should definitely not show your child cartoons and games on phones and tablets. It is advisable to limit or not turn on the TV at all.

When he gets older, you need to do special gymnastics for the eyes with your baby.

For more severe forms of pathology Children over one year old are prescribed to wear glasses with special corrective spherocylindrical lenses.

It can be difficult to control that a child does not throw away or take off glasses, but with constant wear, children get used to glasses.

Following the instructions of the attending physician, By the age of seven, vision can be stabilized, then you won’t need glasses to wear all the time.

There are also special contact lenses for vision correction, they are called toric and are designed specifically for children.

But at the age of one year, it is inconvenient to put on and remove lenses from a child, so they can only be considered in the future, when the child gets older. Rigid lenses, which are worn at night and correct the shape of the cornea, are also being considered for older ages.

Doctors can prescribe eye exercises and physiotherapeutic procedures at the clinic.

By observing a competent specialist and following all his instructions regarding treatment, it is possible to stabilize the degree of deviation and prevent further deterioration of vision.

You will learn a few more interesting facts about the manifestation of astigmatism in childhood and methods of treating the disease from this video:

With astigmatism, as with any other disease, timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment are important. Therefore, caring parents should not neglect scheduled visits to the children's ophthalmologist.

And if a problem is detected, take it seriously and follow all the recommendations of the ophthalmologist.

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