The VIIO Child Eye Care Project

The human eye is an organ that reacts to light and allows vision. Healthy eyes and vision are a critical part of child's development. Their eyes should be examined regularly, as many vision problems and eye diseases can be detected and treated early. Childhood blindness has an adverse effect on growth, development, social, and economic opportunities. A child's brain learns how to use eyes to see, just like it learns how to use legs to walk or a mouth to form words. The longer a vision problem goes undiagnosed and untreated, the more a child's brain learns to accommodate the vision problem. A comprehensive eye examination is very important for children.

CHILDHOOD GLAUCOMA

An 11 year old male child has been under our care and management for congenital glaucoma management since 2018. Childhood glaucoma is a rare condition that may be inherited, caused by incorrect development of the eye’s drainage system before birth. This leads to increased intraocular pressure, which in turn damages the optic nerve. Symptoms of childhood glaucoma include enlarged eyes, cloudiness of the cornea, and photosensitivity (sensitivity to light). Pediatric glaucoma is treated differently than adult glaucoma. The aim of pediatric glaucoma surgery is to reduce IOP either by increasing the outflow of fluid from the eye or decrease the production of fluid within the eye.

The child’s visual acuity in right eye was counting fingers at 1 mtr distance and in left eye was 6/60. The intraocular pressure in right eye was 8 mmHg and in left eye was 17 mmHg. The child was advised to undergo LEFT EYE TRABECULECTOMY WITH MITOMYCIN C UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA. The child underwent the surgery on 25.04.2019.

STRABISMUS - Misalignment of eyes Crossed or misaligned eyes (strabismus) can have different causes, such as problems with muscle control in the affected eye or eyes. Strabismus is a common cause of amblyopia and should be treated early in childhood so vision and eye teaming skills can develop normally.

A 2½ year old girl child was seen at our hospital on 05.03.2019. On examination the baby’s mother informed of head injury due to fall from bed 1 yr back. The child was under treatment for lateral rectus palsy (traumatic plasy). (Head injuries can cause a lateral rectus palsy this is due to raised intracranial pressure.Typical features of lateral rectus palsy include sudden onset of horizontal double vision, which is worse when the patient looks to the affected side). The child was diagnosed to have esotropia (one or both eyes turns inward) in left eye and was advised to undergo LEFT EYE SQUINT CORRECTION SURGERY (2 MUSCLES) UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA. The child underwent the suggested surgery on 31.05.2019.