The VIIO Child Eye Care Project

As children grow, their eyes change quickly. Careful attention to a child's eye health can help catch problems early, while their eyes are still developing. Children generally can accommodate by using their focusing muscles to see clearly near and far. As they age, children’s eyes grow and lengthen, and farsightedness often improves on its own. Significant farsightedness, however, can lead to strabismus and amblyopia ("lazy eye") if left uncorrected.

Good screen time hygiene may help lower the risk of myopia and digital eye strain. Children can get cataracts too, congenitally or after birth. Without proper treatment, pediatric cataracts can cause abnormal connections between the brain and the eye that may become irreversible.

1. A 8 yr old boy child was seen on 29.06.2021 by Dr.Netra Harsha, Consultant & Surgeon – paediatric Ophthalmology Services. On examination the parents gave a history of injury to his right eye with stone 2 month back. Following which the child had pain and redness in the eye and the parents visited eye doctor near their place and the child was treated with some eye drops. They started noticing white reflex in right eye since 1½ months post injury. They were referred to higher centre for needful management. The child’s visual acuity in right eye was hand movements close to face with presence of projection of rays. Surgeon was unable to view the fundus of the eye due to presence of cataract. B scan was done to know the status of retina; the scan findings showed retina ON. The child was diagnosed to have right eye traumatic cataract with anterior capsular rupture with lens matter in anterior chamber of the eye.The child was advised to undergo RIGHT EYE CATARACT EXTRACTION + ANTERIOR VITRECTOMY + POSTERIOR CAPSULOTOMY UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA. The child underwent the suggested surgery on 01.07.2021. As on 20.09.2021; the child is doing well and his visual acuity in right eye is counting fingers at 1 mtr distance with +11 Diopter eye glasses. Child has been advised to review after 1 month.

  2. A 1 year old female child was seen at our hospital on 14.07.2021 by Dr.Netra Harsha, Consultant & Surgeon – paediatric Ophthalmology Services. On examination the child’s parents gave a history of systemic illness of gross developmental delays + epilepsy + respiratory distress syndrome + inborn errors of metabolism- IEM (a rare cause of epilepsy, but seizures and epilepsy are frequently encountered in patients with IEM. Since these disorders are related to inherited enzyme deficiencies with resulting effects on metabolic/biochemical pathways, the term “metabolic epilepsy” can be used to include these conditions. These epilepsies can present across the life span, and share features of unresponsiveness to anti-epileptic drugs, and are often associated with co-morbid developmental delay/regression, intellectual, and behavioral impairments). They informed of noticing white reflex in both eyes and consulted their treating paediatric neurologist who advised and guided the baby for eye evaluation and further management. During visual acuity examination the baby was able to fix and follow light in both eyes. Surgeon was unable to view the fundus of the eye due to presence of cataract. Bscan was done to assess the status of retina and optic nerve head; the scan findings showed retina ON and normal optic nerve head. The baby was diagnosed to have both eyes developmental cataract and advised to undergo BOTH EYES CATARACT EXTRACTION + ANTERIOR VITRECTOMY + POSTERIOR CAPSULOTOMY UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA

The baby underwent the same on 18.09.2021. As on 27.09.2021 the baby is doing well and is advised to review after 3 weeks.