​​Healthy eyes are critical to a child’s growth and development. However, due to genetic and environmental factors, even young children can suffer from eye conditions. These include myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye), and astigmatism, which is blurred vision caused by imperfect curvature of the cornea. Regular vision screening and early detection and treatment are key to healthy eyes in children.

Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), a member of the SingHealth group, gives detailed answers to your questions.

Question by mosmos

Dear Dr, If a child at the age of 10, has increasing far-sightedness, do you recommend the child to go for lasik survery to stop this problem?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

LASIK is performed at age 21 years or older as a child’s refractive error is still changing during the childhood and adolescent years. Therefore, LASIK is not recommended for increasing refractive error in children.

Question by octane

Hi Dr Farooqui, My child has complained that he had floaters in his eyes. Though this does not affect his daily vision. Will the floaters increases as he grow up and became a problem? Is there any treatment for floaters in child's eyes? Thanks.

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

Floaters are deposit or condensation in the vitreous (jelly that fills the eyeball). They can be due to posterior vitreous detachment, retinal tear or detachment, and rarely inflammatory conditions of the vitreous or retina. In children, the above conditions are uncommon. However, I recommend that he gets a comprehensive eye examination to exclude the above. Treatment is dependent on the cause of his floaters.

Question by rsim

Hi Dr Lim, My child plays games on tablet/laptop for hours during weekends, I am concern if this will strain his eyes overtime. What is the recommendation for children playing games with tablet/laptop?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

Too much near work or computer games have been shown to be associated with myopia. It does not matter what activities are performed during periods of near work (i.e. reading, typing or watching videos). It is important to give eyes a break after 30-40 mins of continuous near activity. Also, outdoor activities should be included in daily routine.

 

Question by pocoyosky

Hi Dr Yeo, What are the causes of lazy eye? How can we prevent children from getting lazy eye?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

Lazy eye is termed “amblyopia”. It is a condition where vision is poor despite best correction with spectacles and when there is no visible abnormalities noted with eye. It is due to a child not having developed vision in that eye from a very young age. Amblyopia can be caused by

  1. uncorrected refractive error (i.e. short- or long-sightedness, astigmatism),
  2. large differences in refractive error between both eyes
  3. squints ( termed “strabismus”) or
  4. any eye condition that occludes the visual axis (such as a droopy eyelid, childhood cataract etc)

Lazy eye can be prevented if the child is screened for the above conditions. This is done as part of the School Health Service eye screening programme if your child is of school-going age, or sometimes the above eye conditions may be picked up by optometrists, family doctors, pediatricians or even parents.

Question by simly6

Hi Doc, How regular/frequent should we bring our children for eye check, screening?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

School-age going children undergo eye screening by the School Health Service once a year. Preschool children have vision screening at the age of 4 years as a part of their development assessment by polyclinic. Younger children should get an eye screening if any eye problems are detected by relatives, family doctors or paediatricians or if there is a family history of a serious eye condition (eg. childhood cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa etc)

Question by chai

Dear Dr Lim, How do we prevent our children from developing eye condition? I restricted my kids from watching telly too near and no reading of books while lying on bed. Is that all?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

Too much near work or computer games have been shown to be associated with myopia. It does not matter what activities are performed during periods of near work (i.e. reading, typing or watching videos), It is important to give eyes a break after 30-40 mins of continuous near activity. In addition, including outdoor activities in daily routine has positive effect by preventing myopia.

Question by dsim

Hi Dr Lim, Does eye massager machine for children helps towards having healthy eyes?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

No, the eye massager has not been proven scientifically to help with reducing myopia progression, or to aid the development of healthy eyes.

Question by mrina

Hi Dr Lim, Sometimes, my 6 year old child claims his eyes are very tired and would keep rubbing them, I then told him to close his eyes and rest for while, is this early sign of eye condition?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

Eye rubbing can be due to various causes, such as lid disease, allergic conjunctivitis or any other ocular surface disease. It can also be habitual. However, it is good to get an eye screening to rule out any serious eye conditions

Question by esim

Hi Dr Lim, What are the treatment options available for children with myopia? Is lasik surgery suitable for 8 year old child?

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

Children with significant myopia are prescribed glasses. Contact lenses are not suitable for children due to risk of infection. In children with rapidly progressive myopia or high myopia at diagnosis, atropine eye drops can sometimes be prescribed to slow the rate of progression. LASIK is not performed until age 21 or older due to changing eye power.

Question by andykongkl

Warmest greetings, Dr Lim! My 5-year-old daughter's eyes were assessed, and she was given a Health Assessment Summary that includes the following : Vision Without Glasses LogMAR: 0.28 (Right) 0.20 (Left) Computed Snellen: 6/9.5P (Right) : 6/9.5 (Left) 1. Dr Lim, could you please explain to me the meaning of all these data? 2. Why is there the letter 'P' after 6/9.5 for one of her eyes but not for the other? 3. Based on these data, should my daughter be given prescription lenses? 4. Since she's still tender in age, will her eyesight improve as she grows in age? Thanks a lot in advance for your answers, Dr Lim! With best wishes Andy Kong

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

  1. The vision assessed with LogMar and Snellen is within normal limits for her age.
  2. “P” indicates “partial”, i.e. she could not read all the alphabets on the 6/9.5 line.
  3. It depends what her refractive error is, if this was checked at all. However, looking at the vision she attained, it is unlikely that she would require spectacles.
  4. Yes, this is possible. Her eye power can change (ie. improve or deteriorate depending on whether she is long- or short-sighted or has astigmatism) as she gets older.

Question by sbdtys

Hi Doctor My young nephew has astigmatism since he was 5 or 6. We understand from the doctor it is due to his irregular cornea curvature. Is there any chance of full recovery? How do we protect his eyes from deteriorating further?

Many thanks

Answered by Dr Saadia Farooqui, Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

It is unlikely that the astigmatism will disappear unless it is very mild. Astigmatism mostly remains stable, however there can be slight changes as a child grows due to change in corneal curvature with time.

It is unlikely that the astigmatism will disappear, unless it is very mild. Astigmatism can change as a child grows as the corneal curvature can change with time.

You cannot do very much if a child has astigmatism, except to ensure he wears his glasses if recommended by the ophthalmologist. However, healthy eye habits (i.e. reducing near work, increasing outdoor activities etc. ) can prevent him from developing myopia.

Ref: L20