EYE HEALTH IN CHILDREN AND BABIES Every individual should have an eye examination once a year, whether he/she has complaints. Regular examination of our eyes is essential for a healthy and happy life. This period may be every six months or more frequently in children.

EYE EXAMINATION IN CHILDREN BETWEEN 0-16 YEARS In the first months after birth
1 year old
Complaint 3 years or not
Before starting school
During the school period, regular eye examination should be performed.

WHAT SHOULD THE FIRST EYE EXAMINATION BE PREPARED IN PREMATURE BABIES? The first ROP examination in premature infants should be performed 4-6 weeks after birth. Then, according to the presence and level of the disease, it is repeated at intervals of one or two weeks until the time when the baby should be born.

TEAR DUCT OBSTRUCTION IN BABIES AND CHILDREN In infants and children, tear duct obstruction often causes watering with burring in the eye. It is known that watering can be seen one-third of newborn babies, one or two eyes. When the baby wakes up, if the lashes are stuck together, there's microbial infection. The reason for this type of eye in babies is that the tear canal is congenitally narrow.

Symptoms of Tear Duct Obstruction and Infection:

Watering.

Frequent burring of the eye.

The inflammation of the eye when the root of nose is pressed.

Swelling on the side of the nose.

THE TREATMENT OF TEAR DUCT OBSTRUCTION IN BABIES In first year, massage application is made. It is very important to do the massage as described by doctor. The possibility of opening the channel automatically by massage is very high.
If there is eye burring, antibiotic eye drops are used.
If the watering does not disappear at the end of the first year, the channel is not opened, then probing is performed. If the watering does not disappear after the first probing process, the second probing can be performed after two months.
If the watering does not disappear after the second probing process also, tube placement can be done.

STRABISMUS Strabismus is a visual defect in which the parallels of the eyes become distorted and look in different directions. While one eye looking straight, the other is looking inward, outward or downward. Strabismus is a common condition between children and may also occur in the years ahead. Cross-eye in early diagnosis in which treatment is of great importance can lead to irreversible vision loss in later ages.
Some of the strabismus may not always be easily understood. Early diagnosis is very important in the treatment of strabismus.
When it is late for the first eye examination, it may last a lifetime, and visual problems, aesthetic problems may occur. Therefore, children should be examined by an ophthalmologist, even if they do not have eye complaints after birth and early childhood. Sometimes, in babies, a misleading condition with the width of the nasal root described as a pseudo-strabismus shift can be seen. An eye examination must be performed by an opthalmologist in order to distinguish the pseudo-strabismus from the real strabismus. When it is late for the treatment, the permanent lazy eye may occur in that eye.

TREATMENT
GLASSES: In the case of needing to glasses, which can be corrected by glasses.
CLOSURE TREATMENT: If there is laziness in the sight in case of slip.
SURGICAL INTERVENTION: Congenital slips, glasses-free slips and non-correcting slips even if the glasses are worn can be treated surgically.

EYE LAZINESS (AMBLOYPI): Eye laziness is although there is no structural disorder in eye and eye nerves, the eye is less than the other eye or both eyes have the capacity to see less than the normal limits. If lazy eye is not diagnosed early, it can be most common vision problem in young adults. Even if there is no complaint, routine eye examination is required between 6 months - 1 year old and 3-5 years and then 7 years old.

REASONS OF EYE LAZINESS
Refractive defects: In one eye there is a higher refractive defect than the other eye or high refractive error in both eyes. Strabismus: Slip in one eye. Other eye diseases: cataracts that prevent vision, stain on the cornea, low eyelid closure.

HOW TO TREAT THE LAZY EYE
The strengthening of the neural connections with the brain by running the lazy eye underlies at the base of the treatment of lazy eye. Early diagnosed lazy eye affects the success of treatment positively. Firstly, eye examinations are performed and if necessary, glasses are given. When the healthy eye is closed with certain periods, the lazy eye is referred to the action. In children who are rarely resistant to closure, the pupil is widened in correct eye and blurred vision is created; that is, drop treatment will be applied to the lazy eye. Untreated ophthalmic lethargy results in permanent visual impairment and loss of three-dimensional vision, which can no longer be treated in adulthood. Investigations revealed that people who are lazy eye have increased the risk of losing their eyes because of trauma.