The VIIO Child Eye Care Project

Preventing childhood blindness requires access to prenatal care, primary health care, and good nutrition, which is not often available in especially rural areas. Taking care of children eyes and learning about its health is a first step to preventing vision loss from common eye problems and the eye diseases that affect people in childhood and as age progresses which, if left untreated, result in blindness or severe visual impairment that are likely to be untreatable later in life.

1. A 6 months old female baby was seen at our hospital for retinal evaluation and management. The baby’s mother informed of attack of hip & knee septic arthritis at birth. (Septic arthritis is also known as infectious arthritis, and is usually caused by bacteria. Common bacteria that cause acute septic arthritis include staphylococcus and streptococcus. These foreign invaders enter the bloodstream and infect the joint, causing inflammation and pain. If the infection is not treated early, permanent joint damage may result. The baby was in the hospital for 1 month for the above treatment. She also informed of noticing white reflex in right eye. The baby was a suspected case of Leukocoria - white pupillary reflex which is an abnormal white reflection from the retina of the eye / retinoblastoma. The baby was advised for BOTH EYES EXAMINATION UNDER ANAESTHESIA TO RULE OUT THE ABOVE CONDITION. The child underwent the above on 22.08.2018 under the guidance of ocular oncologist. The examination was inferred as a presence of cystic membrane in right eye and the baby is advised to review after 6 months.

2. An 11 yrs old boy was seen by us with complaints of sudden diminution of vision. On examination the child was diagnosed to have Retinal detachment. It occurs when the retina separates from the back of your eye. This causes loss of vision that can be partial or total. When the retina becomes detached, its cells may be seriously deprived of oxygen.. The retina is a layer of tissue on the inside of the eye. It transmits visual information from the optic nerve to your brain. A detached retina shifts from its normal position. If left untreated, retinal detachment can cause permanent loss of vision. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. The boy was treated with surgical intervention of Scleral buckling on 05.09.2018. It is a surgical procedure used to repair a retinal detachment. The sclera, or the white of the eye, is the outer supporting layer of the eyeball. In this surgery, a surgeon attaches a piece of silicone or a sponge onto the white of the eye at the spot of a retinal tear. The buckle is designed to repair retinal detachment by pushing the sclera toward the retinal tear or break. The vision is restored post surgery and the child is doing well.

3. A 15 yrs old girl with history of gross developmental delays + epilepsy was diagnosed with mature cataract in both eyes. The child was able to appreciate the light at ½ mtr distance in both eyes. She was surgically managed with intervention of BOTH EYES PHACOEMULSIFICATION + FOLDABLE HYDROPHOBIC IOL IMPLANTATION UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA in single sitting on 11.10.2018. Post surgery the child is able to appreciate light at 3 mtr distance.