The document discusses the importance of eye health for children, highlighting that 1 in 4 children may have vision issues, with common problems including refractive errors and lazy eye. It emphasizes early detection, protective measures in various activities, and the role of a healthy diet and lifestyle in preserving eyesight. It also recommends regular eye examinations starting at a young age to ensure optimal vision development.

1. The Growing Eye
Dr. Rahul Shroff MS (Ophth) FMRF
Shroff Eye Clinic
Shroff Eye Hospital

2. THIS MAY BE HOW YOUR CHILD SEES
And he may not even know something’s not right

3. Why should we be concerned?
• 1 in 4 children have eye problems that can
affect reading
• Development of the visual system is
extremely age sensitive
Hence, early detection and treatment of
visual problems is absolutely critical

4. Common eye problems in children
• Refractive errors (spectacle number)
– 80% of visual impairment in children is due to this
factor
– Myopia (near-sightedness)
– Hypermetropia (far-sightedness)
– Anisometropia
• Lazy eye
– Seen in 1% of children
• Squint (crossed-eyes)

5. Protecting your child’s eyesight
• Sports and your child’s eye
– All impact injuries can be prevented by using proper
eye protection
– Use polycarbonate plastic for lenses and use proper
frames
• Swimming and your child’s eye
– Chlorine in pools causes irritation
– Danger of freshwater infections
– Use water tight swimming goggles

6. Protecting your child’s eyesight
• VDUs and our child’s eye
– Can give rise to eyestrain,
headaches, burning,
itching, blurring of vision,
double vision and fatigue
– Computer monitors:
Place so as to minimize
reflection and at eye level
(preferred viewing
distance: 60-80 cms)

7. Protecting your child’s eyesight
– TV: Watch in a softly illuminated room, never in a dark
one (preferred viewing distance: 3-4 mts)
– Reading: Place the light source behind your child
(Reading material at a distance of 12-14 inches)

8. Preserving your child’s eyesight
• Loss of vision is the most feared disability
• Higher incidence when there is a eye
problem in the family
• Many problems also linked to lifestyle
choices – poor dietary habits, excessive UV
exposure

9. Be proactive
• Start with the diet
– Emphasis on fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains
and nuts
– Organic low-fat yogurt and eggs
– Small amount of fish
– Natural unprocessed food
– Avoid junk food
Will help preserve the circulation to the
retina, visual nerve cells and the lens

10. Be proactive
• Add exercise for circulation
– Helps maintain a low blood pressure
– Improves circulation to the heart
– Preserves blood vessels and maintains blood flow
• Protect from UV light
– Prevents oxidative damage to the lens
– Delays degeneration of lens and retina
– Some sunlight important for vitamin D
production
– Use hats and UV-filtering sunglasses

11. Be proactive
• Dietary supplements
– Over 25% of childhood blindness
caused due to vitamin A deficiency
– Helpful nutrients: Vitamin E and C,
zinc, amino acids
– Improve vision and protect the
macula and the lens

12. Eye examination in children
• Vision screening should be done
between 3 ½ and 4 years of age
• Newborn’s eyes should be
examined by a pediatrician
• All premature infants should be
examined by an ophthalmologist
• Conduct routine screening of school children
• Any appearance of visual impairment symptoms
entails a detailed eye examination

13. The gift of vision is precious. And it’s
never too early to help your child have a
bright future

14. Thank You for your time
Shroff Eye Hospital & Lasik Centre
222, S V Road,
Near Suburbia Movie Theatre,
Bandra West,
Mumbai- 400050.
Maharashtra.
Shroff Eye Clinic
Gobind Mahal,
8-B,N. Subhash Road
Marine Drive,
Mumbai- 400002.
Maharashtra.
022 - 66921000022 - 66921000
Shroffeye.org Lasikindia.in Smilerelex.com
022 - 22814077022 - 22814077