"Children's Eye Health: Importance of Annual Exams for Better Vision & Development"

2023-04-25 02:12:00

[Welfare News]There is a saying, ‘If the body is 1,000 nyang, the eyes are 900 nyang’. In particular, since eye health in childhood can influence a lifetime, how about giving children eye health as a gift with an eye exam on Children’s Day?

Unlike other parts of the body, vision is almost complete by the age of 7-8 on average. However, it is difficult to check the development status with the naked eye, and even if a problem occurs, it is difficult for children to accurately express their discomfort, so it is easy to overlook it. This is why careful observation and regular eye examinations by guardians are important.

0-2 years old: when vision develops

A newborn’s visual acuity is such that it can blur large objects up close. Afterwards, the optic nerve matures as the visual cells gradually develop through interaction with the surroundings. At 3 months of age, they can usually make eye contact with their guardians, and at 6 months of age, the position of their eyes is aligned.

Because it is difficult for children at this age to communicate, it is difficult to check whether their eyesight is developing normally. Therefore, it is recommended to take a good look at eye contact, eye alignment, and visual response to nearby toys by period, and to receive an ophthalmological examination if abnormalities are suspected.

3-6 years old: amblyopia and strabismus, prognosis is good when treated at this time

From this point on, communication is possible and simple numbers and pictures can be distinguished, so vision measurement and more precise ophthalmologic examinations are possible. It is normal to have visual acuity of 0.5 or better at 3-4 years of age and 0.6 or better at 4-5 years of age. Amblyopia should be suspected in cases where visual acuity development is below the age range or a visual acuity difference of 2 lines or more in both eyes.

Strabismus, amblyopia, and refractive errors (nearsightedness, astigmatism, farsightedness), which are typical pediatric eye diseases, can permanently affect vision throughout life if not treated in time. In particular, it is better to detect and treat amblyopia early. There is a research result that the success rate is higher when treatment is started at a young age, and if amblyopia is not treated at a young age, vision does not improve even after surgery or treatment as an adult, so timely detection and prompt treatment are required. In the case of strabismus, it depends on the type, but in some cases, early surgery is required for the development of visual function, such as the development of stereopsis. need.

7-10 years old: golden time for myopia treatment

Myopia is best treated between the ages of 7 and 10, when symptoms progress most rapidly. Myopia is a condition in which the length of the eyeball is longer than normal, and it is effective to treat to slow down the progress at a young age when growth continues. If left untreated in an appropriate time and progresses to high myopia, the prevalence of eye diseases that can cause blindness, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal detachment, can increase after becoming an adult. Recently, atropine drug and dream lens are actively used to slow down the progression of myopia.

Choi Da-ye, a specialist at the Strabismus Pediatric Ophthalmology Center at Kim Eye Hospital, said, “Since eye health in childhood influences a lifetime, it is recommended to receive an eye examination once a year before the age of 7 or 8, before vision is perfected.” If regular check-ups are difficult, please make sure to get a check-up at the age of 1, 3, or 6 to check for eye diseases that can affect vision development.”

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