Treatments

Treatments for Pediatric Eye Conditions

Eyeglasses for children

If old enough, let your child play an active role in choosing his or her own glasses. The following are features to consider when buying eyeglasses for children:

• Shatterproof and impact resistant lenses, especially for children who participate in sport activities
• Scratch-resistant coating on the lenses
• Spring-loaded frames that are less likely to be bent or warped
• Silicone nose pads that prevent glasses from slipping
• Cable temples (ear pieces that wrap around the ear) are recommended in children under four years (straps may also be recommended to hold the glasses in place)

Protect your child's eyes from the sun

Although parents go through great lengths to protect their children's skin from the harmful rays of the sun, many forget that the eyes need to be protected, too. Nearly half of American parents do not regularly provide their children with sunglasses that protect their eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Exposure to sun may set children up for potential vision problems later in life.

The sun can cause sunburned corneas, cancer of the eyelid, cataracts, and macular degeneration, among other problems. In addition, children are more susceptible because their lenses do not block as much UV as adult lenses. Children also tend to spend more time outdoors than their parents, often in places where there is a lot of sun reflection, such as beaches, pools, and amusement parks. Most UV eye damage is cumulative.

Protecting a child's eyes from the sun is simple:

• Make sure your child wears a wide-brimmed hat that shades his or her face.
• Buy your child sunglasses that block both kinds of UV rays. Make sure the sunglasses fit properly and are comfortable.