Pediatric Eye Disease Treatment in Columbia & Eldon

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Focused on Your Whole Family

Simple vision screenings may test for visual acuity, but your children need a comprehensive children’s eye exam to assess their overall ocular health. 

Children can suffer from eye diseases and vision conditions just like adults. Some diseases have no visible characteristics or symptoms, so an eye exam is necessary for timely detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Please book your child’s appointment with Family Focus Eyecare today and help preserve their sight long into the future.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Conjunctivitis is commonly known as pink eye. It causes inflammation in the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the eyelid and covering the eye.

The condition is characterized by an alarming, bright pink or red color in the eye. Kids often report a sandy feeling inside the irritated eye. 

Pink eye is uncomfortable and very contagious when caused by a bacterial or viral infection. But, it can also be caused by allergies to pollen, pet hair, and dust or irritation from foreign objects.

Usually, pink eye is not vision-threatening, but as with any infection, there are degrees of severity. If swollen lymph nodes or fever accompany conjunctivitis, or if the condition presents with eye pain, make sure to get medical attention.

Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)

When both eyes look in different directions at the same time, strabismus might be the reason. Strabismus is a muscle condition commonly referred to as crossed eyes.

Strabismus often develops by the age of 3, and, contrary to popular belief, it will not resolve on its own. It’s important to identify and correct strabismus. Proper eye alignment is needed to prevent double vision and develop good depth perception.

The brain relies on the 2 images the eyes send it. When the eyes look in 2 different directions, the brain can’t process the differing images and suppresses vision in the weaker eye to avoid double vision. This can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye). 

The condition can be either intermittent or constant, and there are different classifications of strabismus depending on the way the eye is turning:

  • Esotropia: Inward turning
  • Exotropia: Outward turning
  • Hypertropia: Upward turning
  • Hypotropia: Downward turning

If you notice your child tilting their head to look at things, struggling with depth perception, or blinking frequently, it might indicate strabismus.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

A large difference in the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness between the eyes can result in amblyopia. Commonly known as lazy eye, amblyopia usually develops before the age of 6. 

When diagnosed early, amblyopia can be treated with great success. Amblyopia won’t resolve on its own and can be much harder to treat later on in life. When uncorrected, the brain can start to ignore the image from the weaker eye, leading to permanent vision loss in that eye.

Premature babies, those with developmental disorders, and babies who were smaller at birth have a higher risk of developing amblyopia.

A Lifetime of Sight Is an Exam Away

Part of making sure kids grow up healthy and happy is making sure they grow up seeing the world clearly. Whether you notice anything abnormal about their sight or not, please book your child’s eye exam today.

Visit One of Our Locations

Columbia
West Broadway

Find our Columbia West clinic in the Broadway Business park, near the Callaway Bank and the Regeneration Salon & Spa.

  • 3301 W Broadway Business Park Ct, Suite E
  • Columbia, MO 65203

Columbia
South Providence

Visit our location in South Columbia, near Sophia’s and B&B Bagel.

  • 3901 South Providence Rd
  • Columbia, MO 65203

Eldon
North Oak

Our Eldon location is on Oak Street, two blocks north of the post office and between North and High Street.

  • 115 N Oak St
  • Eldon, MO 65026

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