Therapy of astigmatism in babies

The methods for treating astigmatism are very diverse: they range from glasses with cylindrical lenses to dimensionally stable contact lenses, to laser surgery or corneal transplantation. The choice of therapy always depends on the individual degree of curvature. For babies, the only therapy available for the time being is the use of glasses.

Later, in adolescence, the above-mentioned options can be considered. If the corneal curvature is very pronounced in the baby, conservative treatment by masking the healthy eye usually does not achieve sufficient results, especially if both eyes are affected. Therefore, the fitting of suitable glasses should be started in the baby.

The glasses are individually adapted to the condition of the eyes by the optician and should have a few special features. The glasses are made of stable and unbreakable plastic glass. In addition, the bridge of the glasses should be made of silicone so that it is deformable and does not cause pressure points on the bridge of the nose.

The early use of glasses in babies can cause not yet fully developed nerve tracts to mature and differentiate, thus improving the visual defect. Astigmatism in babies is not completely curable. A refractive error that already exists at birth cannot be completely compensated for with the therapeutic measures and can additionally worsen in the course of the further growth and maturation process.

A certain visual defect remains for a lifetime.It is therefore of particular importance to start adequate treatment by fitting glasses at the age of a few months in order to prevent possible developmental delays as far as possible. Astigmatism in babies cannot be fully grown together. Even early treatment with the help of glasses cannot completely compensate for the defective vision. During the growth process, the curvature of the cornea in the baby may nevertheless improve somewhat, but it can also increase and lead to a more severe impairment of vision. Early and regular clarification and monitoring of the findings is particularly important in order to ensure that the baby’s development is normal and age-appropriate.