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If you're like most parents, you want to find the best way to protect your child's eyes. Dr. Reza Haque, Clinical Research Physician at Novartis Ophthalmics North America, recently answered some common questions that parents ask.
Question: My baby's eyes are blue. Will his eyes stay that color?
Dr. Haque: Eye color depends on the amount of melanin pigment in the iris. Infants may have light eyes because their eyes don't have a great deal of melanin. As babies get older, and more melanin accumulates, eye color may darken. Eye color is also dictated by hereditary factors.
Question: My baby is six months old. How far can she see?
Dr. Haque: Your baby can see everything around her, but not with perfect 20/20 vision. As she gets older, her visual acuity will develop. Most children usually reach 20/20 vision by age 5.
Question: At what age should a child be brought in for the first eye examination?
Dr. Haque: You can bring a child in for an eye examination at any age. It's a good idea to make sure your child's vision is checked by age 4, just before the child starts preschool.
Question: Can children have an eye exam if they don't know the alphabet?
Dr. Haque: Yes. There are different kinds of eye charts especially designed for young children. These charts use shapes that children know, such as squares and circles.
Question: I have heard of 'lazy eye.' What is that?
Dr. Haque: 'Lazy eye' means that the visual pathway for one eye doesn't develop properly. Your doctor may call the condition amblyopia.
Question: What causes 'lazy eye'?
Dr. Haque: There are several possibilities. It could be that one eye either turns in or out, one eye is either very nearsighted or farsighted, or something obstructs the light getting to the back of the eye.
Question: How is amblyopia treated?
Dr. Haque: Children wear a patch over their good eye in order to make the "lazy eye" correct itself. The treatment is not painful, but children may have difficulty seeing clearly when they first wear the patch. Over time, the vision in the lazy eye should get better.
Question: Why can't children tell us if they need glasses or a patch?
Dr. Haque: Children don't know that they can't see correctly. If parents are concerned about their children's vision they should contact their family eye care practitioner.
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