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

Many medical problems may cause vision loss or need for glasses in children. For example, children with Down syndrome very often need glasses to see clearly. These children will also commonly have crossed-eyes (strabismus), tear duct obstructions, cataracts, and nystagmus (eye shaking).

Children who have a growing problem or a brain problem may not see well. The brain serves a very important role in a person’s vision. When we see, the eye sends the image of what we are seeing to the brain. The brain must then interpret and process the image. So some children with good eyes may not see well if their brain is not healthy enough to understand the image sent to it by the eyes. We call this type of vision loss “cortical visual impairment.”

Diabetes is the most common cause of permanent vision loss in the developed world. An eye doctor should see children with diabetes every year. This allows the doctor to monitor changes in the retina and to check for cataracts. If a problem is found early, it can usually be treated before the vision goes bad. When treatment is delayed, the vision loss can be permanent.

Another common systemic problem that children may have is arthritis. Arthritis in children can often cause inflammation in the eye. This inflammation can only be found with an eye exam using a microscope. It is important for children with arthritis to have frequent eye examinations or permanent vision loss can happen.

Click on one of the links below for more information on systemic problems and eye disease.

Down Syndrome: http://www.aapos.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=214

Cortical Visual Impairment: http://www.aapos.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=260

Diabetes:
http://www.aapos.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=77

Arthritis:
http://www.aapos.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=44