Family Eye Care and Children's Eye Center of New Mexico

Often, glasses are used as a treatment for many types of eye problems. Just as people frequently have different size feet, some people have eyes that are too short, too long, or are different sizes.

When a child’s eyes are too long or too short objects may appear blurry and the child’s eyes may cross or lose vision. Children lose vision when there is need for glasses, as their brain does not learn to see clearly. When people are right handed or left handed, there is nothing wrong with their hands. However, the brain does not know how to use both hands equally. The same is true with vision - the brain must learn to see and will not learn properly without a clear image. Amblyopia occurs when there is loss of vision due to the brain’s failure to process what the eyes are seeing.

Glasses are frequently the first treatment used for many eye conditions. Some of those conditions are crossing eyes (strabismus), and loss of vision when the brain does not know how to see clearly (amblyopia). Other reasons for glasses include blurry vision caused by the eye being too short (far sighted or hyperopia), too long (near sighted or myopia), and when the eye surface is wrinkled (astigmatism).

When the family feels the child is mature enough, contact lenses are another method to correct vision. Contact lenses are a big responsibility, like driving a car. Children who cannot learn to use them properly risk injury and vision loss. The use of contacts should be a decision made between you and your doctor. All patients who wear contact lenses must have a backup pair of glasses for those situations when you are unable to wear your contact lenses.

Click on the link below for more information on glasses and contact lenses.
http:www.aapos.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1