Introduction
The cornea of the eye is normally evenly curved. In the astigmatism of a baby, the cornea is curved differently and the resulting change in refraction causes the images to be distorted into lines on the retina instead of points. Because of this physical difference, astigmatism is also referred to as astigmatism. Often other visual defects occur as well.
Causes of astigmatism in the baby
Astigmatism (astigmatism, astigmatism of the cornea) is usually congenital and therefore often inherited from the parents. Eye training cannot compensate for this visual defect. Instead, it is particularly important to examine children at an early stage for possible astigmatism in the baby. Especially if the parents are also affected, the child should be regularly presented to the ophthalmologist so that astigmatism can be detected in time to prevent developmental delays.
What are the symptoms of astigmatism in babies?
A baby with astigmatism does not see sharply either at short or long distances and therefore makes a constant effort to focus its vision. This is often done by squeezing the eye together and quickly leads to fatigue, eye irritation, eye inflammation and headaches. If the astigmatism is more pronounced in one eye than in the other, the baby often tries to compensate for this difference by squinting. Depending on the baby’s age, difficulties in grasping may also be noticeable.
Examination of astigmatism in a baby
The best way to examine a baby’s vision is in a so-called “vision school”. This is a relatively new association of ophthalmologists and orthoptists at university eye clinics, at hospitals, in ophthalmological practices and in special institutions, who together carry out the examination on children from the 3rd month of life (at the latest by the 1st year of life, the child should be presented in addition to the statutory preventive examination), where there is suspicion of weak eyesight such as strabismus, ametropia or eye muscle disorders. The special thing about the examinations in the “vision schools” is that they are carried out in a playful manner and are therefore suitable for children.
In order to be able to assess the vision, eye drops are administered, but their effect wears off after a few hours. There is no time pressure like in an ordinary ophthalmological practice and dealing with children is a daily routine for all examiners. In addition, the constant contact with them gives them a more targeted view of possible diseases of the eyesight in childhood, which promises a targeted examination and conscientious therapeutic approaches.
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