Children’s eyesight plays a vital role in their learning and development. From recognizing faces to learning how to read, they depend heavily on their sense of sight. This is why if your child complains of eye discomfort, it’s important to bring them to an eye doctor and have their eyes checked.
Today, Opti-Care highlights common causes of eye pain in children.
Conjunctivitis
Also called “pink eye,” conjunctivitis occurs when the thin tissue lining the inside of your child’s eyelids becomes inflamed. Common causes are viruses, bacteria, fungi or allergens. This condition may cause eye redness, itchiness, a burning sensation, as well as eye discharge and crustiness on the eyelids. Your eye care specialist may prescribe medication to reduce the inflammation and discomfort.
Refractive Errors
Refractive errors, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, are among the most common reasons for eye pain among children. If the eye has structural irregularities, light entry may be compromised, resulting in difficulties seeing things clearly. As a result, the eye muscles have to work harder to compensate, leading to eye strain and headaches. After performing a comprehensive eye exam and confirming a refractive error, your optometrist may prescribe eyeglasses for your child.
Stye
When an oil gland on your child’s eyelids gets blocked, a stye, or a red, tender bump, may develop. This is often painful and may cause your child to be teary eyed and more sensitive to light than the usual. We suggest applying a warm, wet compress to the affected area for 10 minutes several times a day to help unclog the oil gland and reduce swelling.
Dry Eyes
Dry eye syndrome is another common condition that causes eye discomfort among children. This occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or the consistency of the tears produced isn’t right. Dry eye syndrome may also develop due to too much screen time. When you stare at a screen, blinking is often reduced, which can lead to eye discomfort. We provide dry eye treatments that can help keep your child’s eyes hydrated and moisturized.
For more information on children’s eye care, call us at (410) 795-8670. We serve Westminster and nearby MD areas.