Childrens Eye Care – Astigmatism in Toddlers

Every parent should be aware that astigmatism in children can be a problem if not treated or diagnosed early. To help anyone with kids you can follow these general guidelines on the 7 astigmatism symptoms you can identify that your child could be suffering from and how to correct an astigmatism in a toddler if required in a natural and safe way. Though these guidelines are not set in stone it’s useful to know the basics of astigmatism and how it really affects all of us, adult or child.

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Astigmatism is a condition that commonly inflicts adults, most especially the aging individuals. However, according to research and studies, toddler astigmatism symptoms may also occur. Astigmatism in children becomes the area of interest, most especially amongst parents with children because this condition should be treated immediately. Kids are too young to suffer from eye problems, and it could be very uncomfortable for them. Especially if the problem persists and eventually  leads to a more serious matter.

Based on growing research, many infants have a higher case of significant astigmatism. According to experts, they claim that a toddler with astigmatism could be a hereditary phase. This explains why a lot of children develop astigmatism at a very early age. This condition, unfortunately cannot not be prevented outright, but there are various techniques you can  apply to effectively lower the effects of astigmatism in kids and back-up your child’s eyesight health with a good diet  containing vitamins C and A , vitamin B9 also known as folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12. A combination of a healthy diet and common sense can make a big difference to your child’s overall vision and the effects of astigmatism.

Kids astigmatism symptoms are common and  in moderately high amounts in toddlers and infants, but it usually self corrects as the child grows. When the condition does not cure, or if it persists frequently, it needs to be corrected and treated by a professional eye doctor. When you see any symptoms of astigmatism developing in your  children, your toddler in this case, immediately take  them to your optometerist for proper diagnosis.

Astigmatism in kids is usually congenital and present at birth, but it could also develop after an eye surgery or when the child experiences an eye injury. It is essential to understand what the cause of the eye condition is so that it would be easier to find the most effective eye treatment for the child.

So how do you treat astigmatism in infants? Well, there are various symptoms of astigmatism in children that parents need to look for. It is necessary to become aware of these symptoms so that you would know if your child is suffering from eye problems like astigmatism.

7 Signs To Look For In Your Children

1When kids move their head by tilting or turning so to see better

2When your child experiences frequent headache

3 Easily experiences eye strain and discomfort

4 When children have a difficulty in becoming focused on what they say

5When kids would have a tough time focusing on a particular object

6When a child moves away from too much light

7When kids constantly close their eyes

Kids especially the toddlers and infants in your family are not able to say how they really feel, so as a parent, are these symptoms enough to see that there is something wrong with your child’s eyes? It would be best to have your child undergo regular eye tests to find out if he or she is really suffering from any eye problem. Therefore, an eye test is important and necessary for kids and a effective way to find out what your child is exactly suffering from. In some cases it might not be astigmatism, it maybe something completely different.

Infants and toddlers are younger, and for parents with children suffering from astigmatism it could definitely crush their hearts. The great news is that there are various natural remedies to treat astigmatism in children. They are safe and very comfortable to utilize in kids.

Natural Treatments For Astigmatism in Children

These natural treatments are readily available because they can be found and applied conveniently at home. Here are some of the natural remedies to apply in treating astigmatism in children:

• Kids must consume the right vitamins from foods, which will allow them to achieve healthy and functioning eyes. They must ingest food rich with protein such as eggs, fish, poultry and meats. They also need vitamin A, which is commonly present in fresh fruits and vegetables. We mentioned certain vitamins earlier and many of these can be found in fruits and vegetables but if your child absolutely hates eating prepared greens  there is a clever way around it by using a supplement. Not only will you save time and energy as a parent  when you’re normally buying groceries during rush hour at the end of the week, coming home to prepare the meal  and then trying to convince your child to “eat up, it’s good for you”. You’ll be spared all this hassle and giving your child those all-important eye healthy vitamins will simply be a breeze.

Essential Vitamins For Your Kids;

Vitamin A belongs to a group of antioxidant compounds and protects the exterior surface of the eyes by fighting off eye infections. Not only this but it can also be helpful for immune system protection and the essential bone growth of a child.

Vitamin E is also a important  antioxidant that fights off free radicals and limits cell damage for young and growing eyes. It can be found in sweet potatoes and nuts too.

Vitamin C is known worldwide from studies and is recognized as an essential building block for strong capillaries which maintain a healthy blood flow to and from the eyes. It’s benefits are many. Oranges are a great source of vitamin c, but kale and yellow bell peppers have much more.

Vitamin B-12 is very important for the nerves to sustain a healthy day to day function and are vital for red blood cell creation.  If your child has a low intake of this vitamin it can have a adverse affect on their eyes. Fortified cereals, chicken eggs and most red meats contain this vitamin.

Folic Acid also known as Vitamin B-9 naturally promotes a more healthy and positive feeling and supports eyes, skin and a healthier liver.  It can be found in spinach, asparagus, broccoli, just think “green” and you’ll be on the right track.

All The Vitamins Your Child Needs For All Round Health And Better Eyesight:

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• Parents must also see to it that their kids rest their eyes.  A good sound sleep can rest the eye muscles so they are ready and healthy for the next morning. Refreshed eyes are better than strained eyes.

• Herbal remedies can also be an effective natural treatment. Natural herbs can be applied to the eyes locally. Some herbs that can be used as a treatment are rosewater, lime, pine bark extract and grape seed extract. But be sure to check first as some herbs can be strong and create allergies and they  maybe uncomfortable resulting in a stinging sensation that your child may have to endure needlessly.

• Try to guide your kids away from playing outside during day time when the sun is excruciating. The UV rays of the sun could cause more damage to their eyes. When they step out, it is advised that they wear ultra violet protected sunglasses to keep their eyes protected. This is an excellent preventive measure. Kids love wearing sunglasses, it’s fun for them and at the same time it’s stress-free for parents to implement.

• Keep your kids away from someone who is smoking. The smoke can irritate their sensitive and growing eyes, which can sometimes lead to serious eye problems. If you are smoking, it would be the perfect time to quit this habit for the sake of your own child or if you just occasionally smoke then you can do it when the kids are not around.

• Try to prevent your kids from watching TV for long periods or use the computer the entire day. You may be asking yourself though as a parent, “does watching tv cause astigmatism?” Think back when you were younger, how many hours of tv did you watch? You may have watched a few hours here and there, but I’ll bet you took part in a great number of outdoor activities in the summer which kept you occupied. In today’s world of the iphone, internet, xbox games and fancy gadgets, the effect this can have of on children while watching tv or playing the latest playstation game can lead to longer-term and serious damage of the eyes as they get older. Television and computers could easily strain their eyes, which can contribute to  their astigmatism. Schedule their times when they watch TV so that they can rest their eyes properly.

• Teach your child eye exercises, as these exercises will keep their eyes healthy. One tip is to make sure that your child performs the exercise in non glaring light. Kids must also not strain their eyes while doing eye exercises, and it is necessary to have some breaks from time to time.

Parents can teach them to keep their eyes safe by introducing natural measures, such as eye exercises to their everyday activities. There are many simple eye exercise tips available online and in comprehensive books which can guide you in clear step by step detail.

• Application of Natural Creams- One of the most effective natural eye care treatments is to apply is natural creams. These creams contain healing and natural properties of plants and flowers, which are effective in treating itchiness and soreness of the eyes. These products are often found in pharmacies and over the counter stores, as well as in health shops.

These are the natural treatments to apply, in order to alleviate and treat astigmatism in children. They are most recommended employing because they provide positive effects, plus they are extremely safe to use. Children are younger; therefore, their eyes must not be compared with adults.

These natural options require a delicate treatment and approach so that they can defeat the problematic eye conditions associated with astigmatism in children. It’s important for a child  to be able see a lot of beautiful things in a clear manner when growing up so that they can fondly remember a happy and colorful childhood. It’s up to parents to do all they can and prevent astigmatism in children with the options available to them.

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

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21 thoughts on “Childrens Eye Care – Astigmatism in Toddlers”

  1. My 3 year old son has been diagnosed with astigmatism, but I have never noticed any symptoms and to the contrary his vision seems quite good. When I mentioned this to the doctor he said children can get around quite well with pore vision. But I’m not really talking about just getting around. I work with my son every day with reading and picture finding puzzles, asking him to identify things up close and far away to which he has never hesitated or squinted or tilted his head or any tell tale sign of a problem. So I’m just a bit confused the dr. said it’s a pretty big astigmatism, why can he answer all my questions without struggle but not be able to see??? Should I get a second opinion?

    • Hi, Cheryl

      A second opinion is always helpful. And
      from what you’ve said your son seems fine.

      If you have any concerns with your current
      doctor there’s a free service you can use
      to get more information about them if
      they’re listed.

      There’s a link above under “helpful resources”.

      If you go to docboard, you’ll find a link
      to “docfinder” above in the menu. Click this
      link and just follow the instructions, it’s
      a completely free service and very helpful.

      When you choose a doctor/eye specialist
      try to find one with more experience in
      treating infant astigmatism. Each doctor
      comes with different levels of experience
      in many different areas of eye problems.

      Bart

  2. Hello!
    My daughter is 7 years old, she had been diagnosed with nearsightedness and astigmatism 1 year ago and at that time her number was -1.75/-0.50×155, 0.9 and -165,.25/0.50×50, 0.9-2.
    But now after a year and half her numbers have doubled to -4.00/0.75×16565, 0.8+ and -3.75/0.50×20,0.8.
    And we were all surprised with this sudden increase as she doesn’t use an ipad or iPhone much nor watches much TV. But the doctors here in Guangzhou, China, suggested that I get ortho-k contact lenses for her. We are very confused and worried on what and how to do, if there is any professional person who can help me for reducing or making her number not increase I will really appreciate it. Thanks
    Ismat

    • Hi, Ismat

      Ortho-k lenses are prescribed for mild to moderate types
      of astigmatism. It can help slow down the myopia in your
      daughter and is generally safe.

      The problem with astigmatism is that it’s very tricky to
      predict as to when it will increase or decrease.

      There are many good children’s eye specialists out there
      but they will probably tell you the same thing and have
      different methods. This could probably confuse you even more.

      Try to stick with one treatment at a time and see it
      through to see if there have been any improvements.

      Based on the results you get you can then decide if you
      need to get a second opinion and an alternate treatment.

      Bart

  3. Hi . My little son is 18 months and he diagnoised with astigmatism and prescribed glasses. He is O.D -2.75 (sph) +2.75 (cyl) axis 90 and O.S -2.5 (sph) +3(cyl) 85 axis . I have no idea how poor are his eyes . And if there is any chance to improve and stop wearing glasses . Its so difficult for me to accept that and my heart is breaking .

    • Hi, Melody

      The sooner the astigmatism is picked
      up the better chance your son can
      have of overcoming it. It will be
      better for him in the long run as
      he grows and his eyes develop.

      There are cases where babies
      of 10 and 11 months have worn glasses
      and have only needed them for about
      14 or 18 months and the astigmatism
      adjusted and corrected gradually
      over time.

      I’m not saying this happens all the
      time but there are a few times it has.

      If you have any doubts you can always
      ask for a second opinion.

      Make sure it’s from an experienced
      “pediatric ophthalmologist”. They
      have more knowledge in these situations.

      Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are
      doing the best you can just like any
      other parent would for their child.

  4. Hi. My daughter was diagnosed with astigmatism. O.D. -.50 spherical, +1.25 cylindral, 60 axis. OS is the same except that the axis is 120. I don’t know how to read this. She is five and we had to get her prescription glasses. Can she out grow this? My heart is breaking….

    • Hi, Tanya

      O.D. just means right eye and O.S means
      left eye. They’re common terms used to
      work out prescriptions.

      The cylinder value with a + sign suggests
      your daughter has farsighted astigmatism.

      And the axis value represents the lens
      meridian of the cylindrical lens which
      is used to help correct the astigmatism.

      It really seems like mild to moderate
      and is not severe. Your daughter’s vision
      will improve over time.

      Just keep checking with your doctor
      for updates.

      Bart

  5. Hi , my son us diagnosed with astigmatism …He is prescribed with sphere -.75 and cylinder -1.75 with 90 axis in both eyes. He is 3 year 10 months old. Does he need to ear glasses or he could grow out of it without glasses…are things really blurry for him with this prescription

    • Hi, Nishi

      Your son’s prescription suggests it’s
      for nearsighted astigmatism correction.

      Spherocylinder lenses are used for this
      and it’s very common.

      They will help improve his vision but
      only your son’s eye doctor can tell
      you how long they will be needed.

  6. Hello my 5 month old daughter has been diagnosed with astigmatism I have an eye doctor app on friday..will they prescribe her glasses?. It says she is a -2.75 and a -3.50 in the other eye.

    • Hi, Ashley

      It really depends on how large the astigmatism is.

      If it’s not strong then glasses won’t be needed.
      But if it is then glasses could be prescribed.
      Your eye doctor should explain everything to you.

      Bart

  7. My child is 3 and is diagnosed with astigmatism and has been prescribed glasses. Can she outgrow from wearing glasses someday? She is only 3 and how will she cope with the glasses at this age??

    • Hi, Kavi

      There are many mixed opinions about this.

      Some children have outgrown the problem
      from not wearing glasses but it’s very
      very rare. Only time will tell as your
      child grows.

      Kids are very adaptable and are actually
      better than adults when coping with
      challenges.

      Children’s glasses are designed differently
      and Polycarbonate glasses are the safest.
      They are very comfortable to wear and light
      and your child should have no problem.

      Bart

    • Hi, Jinan

      It depends on how severe the astigmatism is
      and the shape of the exterior of the cornea.

      There’s no reason why your son’s astigmatism
      cannot be improved so he can see better though.

      There are unique contact lenses available
      that can enhance focus and adjust irregular
      curvature that can really help your son.

      A good Eye MD can provide you with the best
      solution and option.

      Bart

  8. Hello,

    My 6 year old son was recently diagnosed to be having astigmatism in both eyes. Was this cause by watching too much tv & playing too much tablet?

    Can it still be corrected? My son is also currently having an eye stye, will this affect his vision which in turn will lead to astigmatism?

    Thank you

    • Hello, Vaughn

      Watching tv can be a factor, it may not be the root
      cause of astigmatism, however too much focus on one
      object constantly everyday, like using a tablet is
      not healthy for the eyes. Just limit the amount of
      time of it’s usage with a few minute breaks.

      The eyes need to focus on far objects too, so all the eyes
      muscles are used. There a 6 eye muscles that serve
      a very intricate purpose. For example one has to
      control the amount of light entering it and another
      the actual focus. So when all the eyes muscles
      can be used as much as often it really can
      make a difference and may help reduce astigmatism.

      Styes are common place and are in fact quite
      harmless. It’s extremely rare that they affect
      eyesight, so your son should be fine as time
      passes.

      We hope this was helpful.

      Roy

    • Hi, Ghasem

      Thanks for your question.

      You must be sure first of all that your child
      has astigmatism through a proper diagnosis with
      your child’s eye doctor.Then you can find a proper
      solution with your doctor.

      We’ve provided very simple tips and advice on this
      blog which we hope will also be of help to you.

      Roy

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