Suggested eye exam schedule for children
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At birth
At 6 months
At 1 year
Yearly until 8 years old
Then, every 2 years
there after |
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Paediatric Eye Care
Paediatric ophthalmology is not yet well established as a separate subspecialty in India in most eye care programs although there are an estimated 200,000 blind children in India. The vast majority of childhood blindness happens before the age of five - a period when 75 per cent of learning is through sight. |
| Rainbow - Eye care programme for the school children |
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This ongoing out-reach eye care programme is aimed at giving a bright future to visually handicapped children by detecting the undetected visual defects in school students and providing them with remedial measures - Medical and Surgical procedures at free of cost.
Once the target school is identified, all the parents receive an information slip, clearly indicating the objective of the project.
Teachers invited to Sankara Eye Center are trained to undertake the initial testing -preliminary vision recording .Children with normal vision are given a green card and those with defective vision (in the opinion of teachers) issued a red card with a message to the parents.
The qualified optometrists deputed to be a part of this project are given an orientation programme at Sankara Eye Center The school children were then screened and issued glass prescriptions if needed.
Surgical interventions would be necessary in conditions such as cataract, corneal opacities and glaucoma in childhood. Early detection and increased access which is central to this project are essential to prevent irreparable damage to the eyes of children.
The correction of refractive errors and the provision of low vision care would be additional activities that are being addressed
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Blindness and severe visual impairment have far reaching social, economic, and personal implications. When it occurs in children, it also poses serious barriers to the development of the child at a formative stage.
Reaching out to under privileged pre schoolers between the ages of 3 and 6 years , this program screens children attending the Integrated Child Development Centres (noon meal centres)
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Without good vision, a child's ability to learn about the world becomes more difficult.
A programme envisaged to screen all new born infants at the various corporation maternity centres was launched on the 31st of May, 2002 by H.H.Vijayendra Saraswathi, Sankaracharya of Kanchi.
All infants under the age of 3 and new born attached to the Corporation maternity homes would be screened by both an Ophthalmologist and paediatrician in tandem. This is our commitment to the next generation.
The first phase of the project has been completed.
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Retinopathy of Prematurity ( ROP )
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ROP is a condition developing in a premature baby wherein there is abnormal growth of blood vessels in the Retina. Babies who are of low birth weight & those with illness in neonatal period are most prone for ROP.
A project has been instituted with Sight Savers International, Pediatricians and Specialty hospitals to screen children at high risk; especially those with gestational age < 35 weeks or birth weight < 2000 gm. In addition any premature child with severe illness in neonatal period would be screened.
Once identified the disease is treated either using LASERS or by a procedure called cryotherapy. The child is followed up periodically. If untreated the sequelae could be Refractive errors (high myopia),Squint, Amblyopia ( lazy eye), Retinal Detachment and Glaucoma
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What do your child's eyes look like?
One eye appears crossed or looks out!
Eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted or swollen
Eyes are watery or red |
How does your child act?
Rubs eyes a lot
Closes or covers one eye
Tilts head.
Has trouble reading or doing other close-up work.
Blinks more than usual.
Things are blurry or hard to see.
Squints eyes or frowns |
What does your child say?
“My eyes are itchy,"
"myeyes are burning" or "my eyes feel scratchy."
After doing close-up work,
your child says "I feel dizzy," "I have a headache".
"Everything looks blurry," or
"I see double." |
Remember, your child may still have an eye problem even if he or she does not complain or has not shown any unusual signs. |
*Prevent Blindness America ®
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