Eye problems affect more than 12 million children in the United States. Some eye problems may be present at birth (congenital) or related to conditions at birth, such as prematurity. Others include diseases, allergies and injuries. Left untreated, these problems can lead to permanent vision loss, or to less serious but still substantial problems such as learning difficulties that may be attributed to a disability.

Eye problems unrelated to allergies include amblyopia (also known as “lazy eye”), strabismus (also known as “crossed eyes”), refractive errors (such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) and others. Many children in daycare or schools contract some form of conjunctivitis, the contagious eyelid inflammation also known as “pink eye.” Allergic forms of conjunctivitis are a hypersensitivity of the eye to certain allergens that may be seasonal or perennial.

Eye injuries in children typically result from sports injuries, misuse of toys, falls, damage from everyday tools and objects, exposure to harmful household products, car accidents and fireworks mishaps.

The symptoms that a child displays vary depending upon the underlying condition affecting the eye. Examples of symptoms that may indicate an eye problem in a child include abnormal alignment of the eyes, pupils that are white instead of black, watery eyes, itchiness and burning and redness. Behaviors that may indicate eye problems include frequent rubbing of the eyes, closing or covering one eye, and complaints of blurry vision.

Children may not always indicate that their eyes are bothering them. For this reason, parents should watch for certain physical or behavioral indicators of an underlying eye problem. Physicians rely on information from parents as a crucial factor in accurately diagnosing a child’s eye-related condition. Most eye problems are diagnosed through a vision test. This is a standardized examination used to evaluate and monitor a child’s vision and to detect potential diseases or disorders that may affect the eyes.

Treatments for a child’s eye problems may include glasses or contact lenses, medications or surgery. Conditions that cannot be treated effectively may involve teaching children techniques that can help them cope with their condition, such as learning Braille in order to read and write or using recorded books to enhance school performance.