What Causes Squint And Sensitive Eyes?
My daughter is 5 years old and I found that she was squinting and was complaining light sensitivity. We were referred to a eye specialist and here are his findings
OD - Sphere +1.5, Cylinder : -4.0, Axis: 180
OS - Sphere +1.00, Cylinder : -2.5, Axis : 173
He has suggested her to use glasses with immediate effect.
I would like to know:
1. IS this eye issue by birth or because of viewing TV and phones
2. Can it be cured using some eye exercise, diet control etc
3. What factors will make it worse in coming years
4. Is lasik recommended to get over this power
Thanks,
XXXXX
It is very important to get the glasses.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gonve very carefully through your query and understand your concern. The size of the eye grows and as it happens, the focus often does not lie on the retina. You might have observed, the powers are reasonably different in either eye. Under such a case it is very important to use glasses. In fact contact lenses are more ideal since the effect of cylindrical power would have been dealt by the same. Not using glasses can have serious negative effects including a condition called amblyopia.
Coming to your questions:
1. It is not due to viewing TV or phone. However, it is important to take the eyes off the TV or phone and look elsewhere after short durations. This is not related to the eye power but is the ciliary muscle fatigue if we keep looking at the same distance continuously.
As I explanined, it is due to improper growth of the eyeball that the eye powers develop.
2. It can not be cured by eye massage, exercise or diet. Glasses very essential.
3. Nothing specific.
4. Lasik is preferable but I would speak more in favor of contact lenses. Discuss the option with your doctor.
Regards
Thank you very much for the reply and I would definitely consult doctor about contact lens.
I have few more queries in this case.
1. Why is the eye ball growth improper ? As the child is in growing age can we take care of this condition ?
2. The power seems to be quite high right now. With age and using glasses does it reduce ? Or does it increase ?
3. Is this going to be life long for the child ?
4. I am really surprised that she reads and writes usually without making any complaints. The squinting is also not very much. How come this high power couldnt have any effect on her ? Do you suggest we re-do the eye test ?
5. I have heard once glasses are put on, they are lifelong. We cannot remove them ? Is it like that ?
Thanks a lot for your time.
Thanks,
XXXXX
Questions answered one by one.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to respond faster.
1. The variation of the eyeball size is pretty common. Had that not been so, you would not have witnessed any young people with glasses.
2. The eye power is as it is and needs glasses or contact lenses. Without aids the power would increase even further. It is hard to comment if the power would reduce with time.
3. Hard to comment if it is going to be lifelong but indeed there is a possibility. That does not mean that not giving glasses is an option. Not giving visual aids will only make the matter worse.
4. Since his close power is less, he can see the closer objects without any problems. However, he has difficulty in seeing distant objects clearly.
5. It is more like if you get habituated to breathing air (and do not do not develop mechanisms of breathing in water), you cannot live without it.
Regards