Children's eye diseases. Prevention of eye diseases in adults and children

Children are touching and defenseless creatures. It is especially difficult when they are sick. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to protect children from some diseases, while other diseases can be prevented. In order after past diseases the children had no consequences, you need to notice something wrong in a timely manner, and consult a doctor.

Vision problems in children

Impairment of the quality of vision is one of the reasons for the delay in the development of children in the first years of life. If vision suffers in preschoolers, they cannot properly prepare for school, their range of interests is limited. Schoolchildren with low vision are associated with a decrease in academic performance and self-esteem, a limitation in the ability to practice their favorite sport, and to choose a profession.

The child's visual system is at the stage of formation. It is very flexible and has enormous reserve capabilities. Many diseases of the organs of vision are successfully treated precisely in childhood if diagnosed in a timely manner. Unfortunately, treatment that is started later may not work well.

Eye diseases in newborns

Many visual impairments develop as a result of congenital diseases. They are detected immediately after birth. After healing, children develop better, their range of interests expands.

In newborns, ophthalmologists diagnose the following diseases of the organ of vision:

• Congenital. This is clouding, which is manifested by a decrease in visual acuity and a grayish glow. Due to a violation of the transparency of the lens light rays cannot completely penetrate on. For this reason, the cloudy lens must be removed. After surgery, the child will need special glasses or.
• Congenital - a disease of the organ of vision, in which intraocular pressure increases. This is due to a violation of the development of the pathways along which the outflow occurs. Intraocular hypertension causes stretching of the membranes of the eyeball, an increase in its diameter and opacity of the cornea. Compression and atrophy occur optic nerve, which is the reason for the gradual loss of vision. With this disease, they constantly instill eye drops reducing intraocular pressure into the conjunctival sac. If conservative treatment is ineffective, perform surgery.
• Retinopathy of newborns is a disorder of the retina that develops mainly in premature infants. With this pathology, the normal growth of retinal vessels stops. They are replaced by pathological veins and arteries. Fibrous tissue develops in the retina, followed by scarring. The retina occurs over time. At the same time, the quality of vision is impaired, sometimes the child stops seeing. Treatment of the disease is carried out with the help laser therapy, if it is ineffective, the operation is performed.
• - This is a condition in which one or both eyes look in different directions, that is, deviate from a common fixation point. Until the fourth month of life, the nerves that control the oculomotor muscles are not formed in children. For this reason, the eyes may deviate to the side. In the case when strabismus is severe, an ophthalmologist's consultation is necessary. Children may have impaired spatial perception and development. In order to correct strabismus, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease. To do this, children are prescribed special exercises to train weakened muscles, perform vision correction.
• represents involuntary movements of the eyeballs either in horizontal position or vertically. They can rotate in a circle. The child is not able to fix his gaze, he does not develop high-quality vision. Treatment for this disease consists in correcting visual impairment.
• Ptosis is a ptosis of the upper, which occurs due to the underdevelopment of the muscle that lifts it. The disease can develop as a result of damage to the nerve that innervates this muscle. When the eyelid is lowered, little light penetrates into the eye. You can try to fix the eyelid with adhesive tape, but in most cases, children aged 3 to 7 years undergo surgical correction of ptosis.

Visual impairment in preschoolers

Strabismus

One of the diseases that lead to a violation of the quality of vision in preschool children is strabismus. This pathology can be caused by the following reasons:

• uncorrected violation;
• decreased visual acuity in one eye;
• damage to the nerves responsible for the work of the oculomotor muscles.

In the presence of strabismus, the image of the object does not fall on the same areas of the eyes. In order to get a three-dimensional picture, the child cannot combine them. In order to exclude double vision, the brain removes one eye from visual work. The eyeball, which is not involved in the process of perceiving the object, is deflected to the side. This forms either a converging squint, to the bridge of the nose, or diverging to the temples.

It is recommended to start treatment of strabismus as early as possible. Patients are prescribed glasses that not only improve the quality of vision, but also give the eyes the correct position. When the oculomotor nerves are damaged, electrical stimulation is used and exercises are prescribed to train the weakened muscle. If this treatment is ineffective, the correct position of the eyes is restored surgically. The operation is performed on children aged 3-5 years.

If one eye is tilted to the side or sees worse, amblyopia develops. Over time, the visual acuity in the unused eye decreases. For the treatment of amblyopia, the healthy eye is turned off from the visual process and the affected organ of vision is trained.

Refractive pathology

In preschool children, the following refractive errors are often diagnosed:

• ... It is most common in children between the ages of 3 and 5. If in one eye hyperopia reaches 3.5 diopters, and there is a different visual acuity in both eyes, amblyopia and strabismus may develop. To correct vision, children are prescribed glasses.
• When the child does not see well into the distance. His visual system is unable to adapt to such an anomaly, therefore, even with a slight degree of myopia, children are prescribed spectacle correction.
• In the case, the image of objects that are located both near and at a distant distance is distorted. With this pathology, correction is prescribed with complex glasses with cylindrical glasses.

Eye diseases in schoolchildren

School-aged children are also prone to refractive errors.

Myopia

With this violation of visual function, the size of the eyeball increases or light rays are excessively refracted. They converge in front of the retina, and a fuzzy image is formed on it. Due to the active growth of the eyeball and the increased load on the apparatus, myopia develops in children aged 8-14 years. The child cannot see what is written on the school board, where the ball is while playing football. To correct myopia, children are prescribed glasses with diffusing lenses.

Farsightedness

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a refractive error that occurs due to the small size of the eyeball or insufficient refraction of light rays. In this case, they converge at an imaginary point located behind the retina. A fuzzy image is formed on it. Most often, farsightedness is first detected in children of ten years of age. If the hyperopia is not high, then the child sees well objects located in the distance. Due to the good accommodative function, he clearly sees objects located at a close distance. Glasses are assigned to schoolchildren in the presence of such indications:

• hyperopia above 3.5 diopters;
• deterioration of visual acuity in one eye;
• appearance when working at close range;
• the presence of headaches;
• tired eyes.

To correct hyperopia, children are prescribed glasses with collecting lenses.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a visual impairment in which the rays of light are refracted differently in two mutually perpendicular planes. As a result, a distorted image is formed on the retina. Astigmatism can be caused by uneven curvature resulting from a congenital malformation of the eyeball. If the difference in refractive power does not exceed 1.0 diopter, then it is easily transferred. In the case when astigmatism is of a higher degree, the contours of objects that are at different distances are not clearly visible. They are perceived to be distorted. Difference in refractive power is compensated by complex glasses with cylindrical lenses.

With accommodation disorder, the clarity of perception is lost when examining those objects that are on different distance or move relative to the observer. It develops due to a violation of the contractility of the ciliary muscle. In this case, the curvature of the lens remains unchanged. It provides clear vision only in the distance or near.

In children aged 8 to 14 years, excessive eye strain occurs. The ciliary muscle contracts and loses its ability to relax. The lens becomes convex. It provides good near vision. In this case, schoolchildren do not see well into the distance. This condition is also called false myopia. With a spasm of accommodation, children perform gymnastic exercises for the eyes, they are prescribed instillations of special drops.

Lack of convergence is manifested by a violation of the ability to direct and hold the visual axes of both eyeballs on an object that is at a close distance or moves towards the eye. In this case, one or both of the eyeballs deviate to the side, which causes double vision. Convergence can be improved with specific exercises.

If the patient is unable to combine two images that are formed on the retina of the left and right eyes in order to obtain a three-dimensional image, a binocular vision disorder develops. This happens due to differences in the clarity or size of the images, as well as when they fall on different parts of the retinas. In this case, the patient sees simultaneously two images that are displaced one relative to the other. In order to eliminate diplopia, the brain can suppress the image that forms on the retina of one eye. In this case, vision becomes monocular. In order to restore binocular vision, it is necessary, first of all, to correct visual impairment. The result is achieved through prolonged training of the joint work of both eyes.

What else can be done to restore vision in a child?

In case of refractive disorders in children (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism), as well as strabismus and amblyopia, most ophthalmologists prescribe courses of apparatus treatment, which have a good effect. If earlier for this little patients and their parents had to visit the clinic, spending time on the road and queues (and sometimes nerves and money), now, with the development of technology, a number of effective and safe devices have appeared that can be used at home. The devices are small, affordable and easy to use.

The most popular and effective home appliances

Sidorenko glasses (AMVO-01)- the most advanced device for independent use by a patient with various eye diseases. Combines color pulse therapy and vacuum massage. It can be used both in children (from 3 years old) and in elderly patients.

Visulon- a modern device for color pulse therapy, with several programs, which allows it to be used not only for prevention and complex treatment vision diseases, but also with pathology nervous system(for migraines, insomnia, etc.). Supplied in several colors.

The most famous and popular eye apparatus based on pulse color therapy methods. It has been produced for about 10 years and is well known to both patients and doctors. Differs in low price and ease of use.

Baby eye diseases proceed, in comparison with adults, a little differently, because the formation of the eyes continues until the age of 14.

information The main signs accompanying eye pathology in children include anxiety, irritability, hyperexcitability.

The main types of diseases

• Nearsightedness (myopia). This disease is often observed in children, especially during the period active growth... The clarity of vision of objects in the distance is impaired, the child complains of rapid fatigue, seeks to move closer to the TV or computer, squints when watching TV programs.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia). Children who suffer from farsightedness, write and read with difficulty, fatigue quickly comes to them, complaints about headache, there are cases of nausea. The child has poor vision of closely spaced objects, and also cannot clearly distinguish objects at a distance.
• At astigmatism v baby eye there are two focuses that are not in the right place. This disease strongly affects the brain cells, which leads to a state where wearing glasses does not have the desired effect (amblyopia); the disease does not allow it correctly.
• most often develops at the age of 2-3 years and can be both vertical and divergent. With such a disease, there is no symmetry in eye movement due to a violation of the parallelism of the axes of the eyes, visual impairment is noted, and disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and childhood neuroses appear.
• divided into viral, allergic and bacterial. This ailment is characterized by redness and pain in the eyes, sometimes even pus is released. The main symptoms include tearing, swelling of the eyelids, itching and dilated eye vessels.
• Obstruction of the lacrimal passages() manifests itself in redness of the inner corner of the eye and in purulent discharge. In this case, there is a violation of the outflow of fluid from the lacrimal sac, an inflammatory process develops.
• For damage to the cornea of ​​the eye are characteristic following signs: blurred and blurred vision, pain and cutting sensations in the eyes, purulent discharge.
• Iritis (inflammation of the iris) manifests itself in reddening of the sclera, blurring of the iris pattern, sometimes with hemorrhages. In this disease, the iris is the narrowing of the pupil. There are cases when the iris grows together with the lens.
• Spasm of accommodation of the eye ("false myopia") it is expressed by rapid fatigue and reddening of proteins with any visual load. Sometimes there is double vision and a slight decrease in sharpness of vision in the distance.
• Cataract (clouding of the lens) is often congenital disease... It is characterized, first of all, by the color of the pupil - it is not black, but gray or whitish. At the same time, the child has inflamed eyelids, he often blinks, cannot hold his gaze on one object, rubs his eyes.

The main causes of eye diseases

Many defects of the organs of vision are manifested in childhood, and the causes of the disease can be identified at an early age, and sometimes even before birth.

important It is important to know the structure of the eye and the functions that it performs in order to pay attention to outward signs eye disorders: notice redness, unusual appearance, take into account the color of the pupils, etc.

Eye diseases in children are as common as in adults. The formation of the child's visual system is influenced by many factors, such as ecology, modern technology, a woman's lifestyle during pregnancy, and heredity. The nature of eye diseases (etiology) in children can be different: viral diseases, injuries, burns, etc.

Their reasons may be:

• genetic features (cataract, glaucoma);
• intrauterine infections;
• eating disorder;
• prolonged stress on the child's eyes, prolonged sitting in front of the computer, insufficient illumination when reading;
• poor heredity;
• transferred;
• ingress of foreign objects;
• games with pyrotechnic items without parental supervision, etc.

Eye diseases in children can be either congenital or acquired. As soon as the slightest suspicion of children's eye diseases appeared, an urgent need to consult a specialist. It is easier and better to cure a disease that has just arisen, and not a neglected disease. First of all, it is worth figuring out what causes eye diseases in children.

Causes

Children's eye diseases have their own causes, which depend on the specifics of the disease.

1. Congenital eye diseases in children. Causes:
   • different types of genetic abnormalities eye development,
   • intrauterine pathologies, infections,
   • lack of vitamins,
   • unfavorable ecology.
2. Acquired (infectious and viral) eye diseases in children. Causes:
   • inflammation the membranes of the eye,
   • an allergic reaction to any irritant,
   • an infectious agent in the eye,
   • the resulting burn or eye injury,
   • large visual loads,
   • bad light when reading, spending most of the time at the computer or TV.

In order to prevent further deterioration of vision, it is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist. It is he who will identify what eye diseases in children and, depending on the specific case, write out a treatment plan.

Effects

Eye diseases in children can lead to the most serious consequences if you do not consult an ophthalmologist in a timely manner. In the absence or improper treatment, they can move into new forms that are more hazardous to health.

Including:

• with the wrong glasses, the child is threatened with chronic headaches;
• in case of visual impairment, you should be regularly examined by an ophthalmologist;
• with a pathological enlargement of the eyeball, it is necessary to undergo scleroplasty, otherwise myopia will continue to progress, which means that vision will deteriorate more and more.

Symptoms

Children's eye diseases have a number of symptoms. As soon as they appear, you should make an appointment with an optometrist for a comprehensive examination and diagnosis.

1. Itching, swelling, whitish discharge from the eye and redness indicate the appearance of conjunctivitis in the child. In newborns, this disease occurs quite often. There are several types of conjunctivitis with different symptoms:
   • allergic appears due to irritants. They can be pollen of plants, dust, and household chemicals;
   • viral is characterized by redness of the eyes, their swelling, tearing. This type of disease appears due to coxsackie viruses, herpes, enteroviruses, adenoviruses;
   • bacterial occurs due to contact with the transparent tissue covering the eye, bacteria and microbes. As a result, the child has purulent discharge from the eyes and redness.
2. Newborns may have white or yellow scales on the eyelashes, redness and swelling of the eyelids. This is inflammation of the eyelid margins caused by bacteria or mechanical damage. This disease is called blepharitis.
3. Constant tearing, mucous discharge with pressure and redness of the eyes in newborns may indicate the appearance of a disease such as dacryocystitis, when the lacrimal sac at the inner corner of the eye becomes inflamed.
4. If in children under one year old there is an increase in the anterior part of the eye, corneal opacity, lacrimation and spasms of the eyelids, then this may be congenital glaucoma and you should immediately consult an ophthalmologist.

Diagnostics

The doctor identifies eye diseases in children using special diagnostic methods. At the initial appointment, the doctor interrogates and collects all the patient's complaints. Then carried out complex inspection eye, with the help of special tables, visual acuity is checked. The ophthalmologist can also use a more complex examination for an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnostics types:

• intraocular pressure check;
• examination with a slit lamp of the cornea, iris, vitreous body, anterior chamber of the eye;
• examination of corneal tissue using a microscope;
• examination of the photosensitivity of the retina;
• the study choroid eyes by introducing fluorescein into the blood;
• laser scanning to check the condition of the optic nerve head.

Types of eye diseases in children

Children's eye diseases can appear in newborns, and in children under one year old, and in preschool children, and in children of school age. Children's eye diseases can appear in newborns, and in children under one year old, and in preschool children, and in school children.

The following diseases are especially common:

1. Diseases of the eyelids:
   • ankyloblefaron is a pathological disease that is a fusion of the edges of the eyelids;
   • blepharitis is an inflammatory process of the edges of the eyelids;
   • barley is inflammation hair follicle eyelashes, purulent formation.
2. Conjunctival diseases:
   • conjunctivitis is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the eye;
   • xerophthalmia is a pathology in which the level of hydration of the mucous membrane and cornea is impaired;
   • corneal disease;
   • keratitis is a pathology characterized by clouding of the cornea of ​​the eye;
   • corneal dystrophy is a pathological process in which the sensitivity of the cornea decreases.
3. Lens diseases:
   • cataract, in which the lens loses its transparency, becomes cloudy;
   • aphakia is a disease in which the lens is missing.
4. Retinal diseases:
   • rhinitis is an inflammatory process in the retina of the eye;
   • retinal detachment - the process by which the retina is detached from the tissues.
5. Diseases of the muscles of the eye:
   • strabismus is a deviation of the axis of vision from the fixation area;
   • myopia or myopia is a violation of refraction, in which objects in the distance are poorly visible;
   • farsightedness or hyperopia is a violation of refraction, when the rays of light are focused not on the retina, but behind it;
   • astigmatism is a pathology in which the cornea or lens acquires an atypical curve, and not a spherical shape.

Treatment

Children's eye diseases can only be cured by an ophthalmologist after full examination and making an accurate diagnosis. Self-medication is not only ineffective but also dangerous. With an independent choice to the drug, an allergy may occur or manifest side effect, which will further worsen the child's condition. Only the doctor knows which medications are suitable and not harmful to health.

Prophylaxis

Eye diseases in children under one year old, as well as in newborns, are, as a rule, congenital diseases. And eye diseases in children of preschool age and in children of school age are, in most cases, acquired diseases. But there are general and universal methods for protecting the eyes of a child:

• hardening,
• a lot of fruits and vegetables in the diet,
• observance of personal hygiene,
• regular check-ups by an ophthalmologist.

You can find a professional doctor on our portal. Choose a specialist yourself on the website or call the help desk (the service is free).

Signs of Eye Disease Detected by a Traditional Consultative Examination

Diagnostics eye diseases, like any other pathology, begins with the collection of patient complaints. There are certain combinations of symptoms that allow for a preliminary diagnosis. eye diseases based solely on the patient's complaints. So, for example, a combination of symptoms such as morning sticking of the eyelids, abundant discharge from the conjunctival cavity and redness of the eye without a decrease in its function indicate acute conjunctivitis... Corneal lesions are characterized by a triad of symptoms - severe lacrimation, painful spasm of the eyelids and photophobia.

However, in many cases, this kind of combination is also nonspecific, as well as individual symptoms. In particular, complaints of blurred visual fields in combination with a gradual painless decrease in visual function may indicate such different in nature diseases as cataracts, open-angle glaucoma, optic atrophy, etc.

Therefore, a diagnostic search for eye diseases can be quite difficult and require the use of special equipment. To save time, money and nerves, it is better for the patient to prepare for the visit to the ophthalmologist by preparing answers to the most popular questions, such as:
1. When the symptoms of eye disease first appeared (in cases where the pathology develops gradually, it is often not so easy to remember the first minor symptoms - rapidly appearing eye fatigue, flies before the eyes, sticking of the eyelids in the morning, etc.);
2. What measures were taken to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, and whether there has been an improvement;
3. Has any of the relatives suffered from eye diseases or eye diseases ( hypertonic disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, increased thyroid function, etc.);
4. Whether the patient's work is associated with occupational hazards for vision;
5. What eye diseases and eye surgeries have been transferred.

After a detailed collection of information, the ophthalmologist proceeds to examine the patient. The examination begins with a healthy eye. In cases where both eyes are affected by the pathological process, traditionally they start from the right.

The doctor pays attention to the mobility of the eyes, the condition of the palpebral fissure, the position of the eyelids, then, slightly pulling the lower eyelid, examines the mucous membrane of the conjunctival cavity.

A standard examination to detect eye diseases is carried out in daylight. Consultation with an ophthalmologist, as a rule, includes the well-known procedure for determining visual acuity using special tables (Golovin-Sivtsev table or children's visometric tables). If necessary, more complex examination methods are prescribed.

What methods do ophthalmologists use to diagnose eye diseases

Most patients, after undergoing a traditional examination and consultation with an ophthalmologist, receive only preliminary diagnoses of eye diseases, for the clarification of which it is necessary to carry out certain additional methods surveys, in particular:

• biomicroscopy (examination of the optical media of eye tissues, such as the cornea, iris, anterior chamber of the eye, vitreous, using a slit lamp);
• gonioscopy (examination of the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye formed inner surface cornea and outer surface iris and ciliated body);
• study of intraocular pressure;
• assessment of the sensitivity of the cornea (carried out in the "old-fashioned" way by gently touching a cotton swab to the surface of the membrane covering the pupil in the center and four places along the periphery);
• conifocal intravital corneal microscopy (examination of corneal tissues using a specially adapted microscope);
• studies of tear production and lacrimation, with the help of which the uniformity of tear distribution, the total amount of tear fluid production, the patency of the lacrimal ducts are determined;
• diaphanoscopy and transillumination of the eye (widely used for penetrating wounds and neoplastic processes of the eye, the assessment of the state of the internal structures and membranes of the eyeball using diaphanoscopes that direct light through the sclera (diaphanoscopy) or the cornea (transillumination of the eye));
• ophthalmoscopy (a standard method of objective examination of the fundus);
• study of the central and peripheral visual fields (study of the photosensitivity of the retina by establishing the boundaries of the visual fields and determining the usefulness of vision (absence / presence of blind spots in the field of view));
• the study color vision, which is carried out using special device anomaloscope, or / and special color tables and tests;
• assessment of binocular vision (friendly eye work), which is used for professional selection (pilots, drivers, etc.), routine examinations, as well as for pathology of the oculomotor apparatus (strabismus, professional ophthalmopathy, etc.);
• ultrasound examination of the eye;
• fluorescent angiography of the eye day, which allows a detailed examination of the state of the choroid of the eye by introducing a special substance fluorescein into the blood;
• optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a modern method of studying the optical structures of the eye, which allows obtaining information at the microscopic level;
• Heidelberg retinal tomography, which uses laser scanning to obtain ultra-precise information about the state of the optic nerve head and the retina as a whole;
• laser polarimetry - newest way objective examination of the state of the optic nerve head;
• electrophysiological methods, which are the study of activity visual analyzer based on changes in bioelectric potentials arising in the cells of the cerebral cortex in response to light stimulation of the retina.

Treatment of eye diseases

How can eye diseases in humans be treated?
Treatment of eye diseases with folk remedies and methods
official medicine (surgical,
physiotherapy, medication)

The main methods of official medicine are surgical and conservative. As a rule, they resort to surgical intervention in cases where a reliable and stable result can be obtained with the help of conservative therapy impossible.

Predominantly surgical method is used to heal congenital defects development of the eye, correct age changes(surgery to replace the lens for cataract, surgical treatment senile ptosis, volvulus and eversion of the eyelids), restore normal circulation of intraocular fluid in glaucoma, eliminate many malignant tumors, etc.

However, most eye diseases can and should be treated without a scalpel. So the need for surgery in many cases indicates untimely intervention or inadequate treatment of pathology (infectious eye diseases, "ocular" complications of diabetes, etc.).

The main methods of conservative treatment of eye diseases are medication and physiotherapy. Under medication understand the treatment of eye diseases with medical supplies local (special eye drops and ointments) and, much less often, general action(drugs for oral administration and injections). Physiotherapy treatment is a fight against an illness using physical factors (heat, electric current, magnetic field, etc.).

Modern medicine allows and welcomes the use of so-called folk remedies (beaver stream, honey, etc.) in the complex treatment of eye diseases. However, they should be used on the recommendation and under the supervision of the attending ophthalmologist.

What are the drugs for the treatment of eye diseases

All drugs for the treatment of eye diseases, according to their purpose and principle of action, are divided into seven large groups.

Anti-infective medicines are used to treat inflammatory processes caused by exposure to microorganisms. This large group of drugs includes the following types of drugs:

• Antiseptics or disinfectants are drugs that do not penetrate into the inner layers of the skin and mucous membrane, but have a powerful local anti-infectious and anti-inflammatory effect. The most popular are Vitabact eye drops, combined preparations containing boric acid, silver salts, etc.;
• Antibiotics - substances biological origin, as well as their synthetic analogs with a pronounced antimicrobial effect. For the treatment of infectious eye diseases, antibiotics from the chloramphenicol group (levomycetin 0.25% eye drops), aminoglycosides (tobramycin (Tobrex) eye drops) and latest antibiotics broad-acting fluoroquinolones (eye drops Cipromed (ciprofloxacin)).
• Sulfonamides are one of a group of chemotherapy drugs that is effective against most types of bacterial infection... In ophthalmic practice, sulfonamides are represented by such a well-known drug as Albucid eye drops (sodium sulfacyl).
• As antifungal drugs for the treatment of eye diseases, as a rule, drugs intended for oral administration are used (Nystatin tablets, etc.).
• Antiviral drugs used to treat eye diseases are divided into antiviral chemotherapy drugs that directly eliminate viruses (for example, 3% Acyclovir ointment) and immune drugs that activate the body's defenses (drug for intramuscular injection Cycloferon).

Anti-inflammatory drugs are typically used to treat non-infectious inflammatory eye diseases. It is also possible to use drugs of this group for protracted infections in combination with anti-infectious therapy.

At the same time, a distinction is made between steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, dexamethasone drops, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as eye drops containing 0.1% diclofenac sodium solution.

In addition, there are combination drugs with anti-infectious and anti-inflammatory effects. Such medicines include drops of Sofradex, Tobradex and Maxitrol, which are successfully used for infectious and inflammatory eye diseases with an allergic component.

Antiallergic drugs are intended for the treatment of eye diseases allergic origin and include medicines of several groups. First of all, these are the so-called membrane stabilizing drugs that prevent the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells responsible for the development of the allergic process (eye drops Lekrolin and Ketatifen).

Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac, a special cavity for the collection of tear fluid, located at the inner corner of the eye.

The lacrimal fluid performs an essential function, protecting the mucous membranes of the organ of vision from drying out and the development of dangerous infectious and degenerative eye diseases. The tear is produced by a specialized lacrimal gland located in the upper lateral part of the orbit.

The lacrimal fluid is evenly distributed in the conjunctival cavity, while excess tears are removed through the lacrimal tubules, the mouths of which open on the conjunctiva of the inner corner of the eye below.

Through the lacrimal canals, the lacrimal fluid enters the lacrimal sac, which ends blindly from above, and from top to bottom passes into the nasolacrimal canal, which opens into the nasal cavity.

During the period intrauterine development the opening of the nasolacrimal canal is closed, so that normally it opens with the first loud cry of the newborn. In cases where the thin film overlapping the nasolacrimal canal remains intact, there is a real threat of the development of neonatal dacryocystitis.

The point is that tear fluid is good. nutrient medium for microorganisms that begin to multiply intensively in an overflowing lacrimal sac, causing an inflammatory reaction.

Symptoms of dacryocystitis in newborns are largely similar to those of conjunctivitis: the affected eye begins to fester, there is increased lacrimation, and cilia can stick together in the morning.

To suspect dacryocystitis of newborns will help such characteristic symptom as damage to only one eye and an increased amount of tears in the conjunctival sac.

Finally, you can make sure that there is inflammation in the lacrimal sac by lightly pressing on the area of ​​its projection (the lateral surface of the nose at the inner corner of the eye) - at the same time, droplets of pus and / or blood will appear from the lacrimal openings, which are the mouths of the lacrimal tubules.

Dacryocystitis of newborns refers to infectious diseases eyes that should not be treated with antimicrobial agents. After all, purulent inflammation is only a consequence of the pathological obstruction of the nasolacrimal canal.

So the most adequate treatment for dacryocystitis in newborns is the massage of the lacrimal sac, which helps to open the nasolacrimal canal. This is a simple procedure, the video of which can be easily found on the Internet. With clean hands, the mother gently presses the projection of the lacrimal sac from top to bottom.

In the majority of cases, with the help of regularly repeated simple manipulation, it is possible to get rid of the film covering the mouth of the nasolacrimal canal. As soon as the lacrimal fluid stops accumulating in the lacrimal sac, the infectious process is spontaneously eliminated.

In cases where a weekly course of massage of the lacrimal sac does not lead to success, the patency of the nasolacrimal canal is restored surgical methods(probing and lavage of the lacrimal passages, which is carried out under general anesthesia).

Diseases of the eyes in premature babies. Retinopathy (pathology of the retina) of prematurity: causes, symptoms, treatment

The main problem of premature babies is the immaturity of all body systems, as well as the need for many resuscitation measures that save the life of the baby, but can have an adverse effect on its further development.

A typical eye disease born ahead of time children suffer from retinopathy of prematurity - a severe pathology, often leading to irreparable loss of vision.

The immediate cause of retinopathy of prematurity is the immaturity of the vasculature of the retina, the inner shell of the eyeball, which is responsible for the light perception itself.

The retinal vasculature begins to develop only at the 17th week of development. At the same time, by the 34th week of pregnancy (the gestational age is calculated from the first day of the last menstruation), the formation of vessels located at the nasal part of the retina is completed, so that the optic nerve head and macula (the part of the retina responsible for the best vision) are already normally supplied with blood, but the temporal part the retina is still extremely poor in blood vessels. Completely the formation of retinal vessels ends only by the last - 40th week of gestation.

If a child is born prematurely, many unfavorable external and internal factors begin to affect his still immature retina, which can cause the main manifestation of retinopathy of prematurity - a violation of the normal formation of retinal vessels, expressed in their germination into the vitreous body of the eye.

As a result, hemorrhages form in the vitreous body, and pathological tension of the retina by improperly growing vessels leads to its local or even complete detachment, ruptures and other irreversible changes.

Retinopathy of prematurity as an eye disease of varying severity develops in 76% of children born at 24-25 weeks of gestation, and in 54% of children born at 26-27 weeks of gestation. At the same time, retinopathies of prematurity, threatening retinal detachment, occur in 5% of children born before 32 weeks of gestation, and the risk of developing this formidable complication in children born at 24-25 weeks reaches 30%.

It should be noted that retinopathy of prematurity also occurs in babies born on time. This happens when it comes to an immature fetus and / or exposure to extremely aggressive factors in the first hours and days of life.

• those born less than 32 weeks of gestation;
• those born at any time with a weight less than 1500 g;
• those born at a gestational age of 32 to 36 weeks and who received oxygen for more than 3 days;
• all premature babies with episodes of complete apnea (lack of breathing, requiring emergency resuscitation measures).

During this eye disease, three periods are distinguished:
1. Active(about six months), when abnormal development of blood vessels occurs, hemorrhages occur in the vitreous body, as well as detachment, detachments and ruptures of the retina.
2. Reverse development (second half of life), when partial, and in mild cases, complete restoration of the functions of the retina and vitreous body occurs.
3. Cicatricial period or a period of residual manifestations, which can be judged one year after birth. Most frequent complications postponed retinopathy of prematurity are:

• cicatricial changes after retinal tears and detachment;
• myopia of moderate or high degree;
• clouding and / or displacement of the lens;
• glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure);
• subatrophy of the eyeballs;
• corneal dystrophy with the subsequent formation of a leucorrhoea.

To date, specific prophylaxis of retinopathy of prematurity has not been developed. All at-risk infants at 5 weeks of life (but not earlier than 44 weeks of intended gestation) undergo a fundus examination.

In the case of a real threat of retinal detachment, ruptures or tears of the retina with this eye disease, either cryotherapy (cauterization of germinating vessels with cold) is performed, which reduces the risk of irreversible blindness by half, or laser therapy (laser action on abnormal vessels), which is just as effective, but significantly less painful.

What to do with dacryocystitis in a child - video

Prevention of eye diseases in adults and children

Primary and secondary prevention of eye diseases in humans

Distinguish between primary and secondary prevention eye diseases in children and adults. At the same time, primary prevention is aimed at preventing the development of eye diseases, and includes a complex of hygienic and recreational measures (adherence to the correct regime of work and rest, the use of special gymnastics for the eyes, reducing the time spent on activities that tire the eyes, the use of protective factors in the presence of occupational hazards, etc. .).

Secondary prevention is the measures taken for the timely detection and treatment of eye pathology (routine examinations with an ophthalmologist, refusal of self-medication, strict adherence to all doctor's prescriptions). Thus, if primary prevention is powerless, adequate treatment of a timely detected pathology avoids severe consequences for the organ of vision and the body as a whole.

Prevention of eye diseases in children

Primary prevention of eye diseases in children primarily includes occupational and recreational hygiene during all activities that require eye strain (reading, writing, drawing, working at a computer, playing with small details of constructors, etc.).

It is necessary to adhere to the daily regimen so that children's eyes have a good rest during sleep. Rational lighting and teaching the child the rules of hygiene of reading and writing will help protect against eye diseases.

Many children like to read lying down, as well as while riding in transport, often using material on electronic media for this, which has a significant load on the organs of vision. Parents should warn their offspring that this behavior, as well as the use of material with small print and poor contrast, can lead to the development of serious eye diseases.

School hygiene provides for sufficiently long breaks between lessons, during which it is strongly recommended to give full rest to the eyes. After attending school, children should be outdoors or indoors and should do their homework only after a sufficient break (at least 2 hours).

Many parents ask about when watching TV and working at the computer can pose a risk of eye disease. It all depends on the overall load on the organ of vision. Of course, if a student is forced to spend a lot of time reading textbooks, it is better for him to choose another type of entertainment (active games, sports sections, walks, etc.).

Secondary prevention of eye diseases in children consists in the timely passage of routine examinations by an ophthalmologist and timely application for a specialized medical help with the appearance of any alarming signs on the part of the organ of vision.

Prevention of eye diseases in adults. How to prevent the development of eye disease from a computer

Everyone knows that scientific and technological progress not only led to tremendous success in medicine, but also caused the appearance of many diseases, including eye diseases.

The most common eye disease associated with the new conditions of human life is a computer syndrome, manifested by the following symptoms:

• rapid eye fatigue;
• the feeling of "grit" in the eyes;
• soreness of the eyeballs;
• pain when moving the eyes;
• redness of the eyes;
• color vision disorders;
• slow refocusing of eyes from distant objects to near ones and vice versa;
• the appearance of blurred vision, double vision, headache during prolonged work with a computer.

The main reason for the development of computer syndrome is a violation of the hygienic rules that protect the organ of vision. Therefore, in order to protect yourself from such an eye disease, it is enough just to comply with all the simple requirements.
1. If the work is associated with a long stay at the computer, you need to spare your eyes outside of working hours. For example, instead of reading, you can use listening to audiobooks, and learn news from radio broadcasts. It is necessary to drastically reduce the time spent on visiting social networks, reading forums, etc. It should be borne in mind that "sedentary" work generally adversely affects health, therefore, in the list of entertainment, it is better to replace the computer and TV with walks in the fresh air, going to the pool or a trip to the country.
2. While working at the computer, the alternation of work and rest should be observed: a 10-minute break every 50 minutes of work.
3. It is advisable to finish every 20 minutes of work with a 20-second break for elementary gymnastics for the eyes (fixation of the gaze on objects located at a distance of 6 meters and further from the monitor).
4. If you have such eye diseases as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, you should work at the computer with glasses or corrective lenses.
5. The optimal distance to the display (80 cm) should be observed, while it is desirable that the center of the screen is 10-20 cm below eye level.
6. Use high-resolution screens for regular use of your computer.
7. To select the ideal working font size, you need to empirically determine the minimum readable font size. The working size should be three times larger. The optimal type of text is black and white. Avoid dark backgrounds whenever possible.
8. Pay attention to the lighting, do not work near bright light sources, flickering lamps. In bright natural light, it is better to curtain the window, and cover the surface of the table with a matte material.

Prevention of eye diseases

Before use, you must consult a specialist.

Diagnosed eye diseases in children able to delay the development of the baby, slow down the preparation for school. Poor vision of a student negatively affects his academic performance.

On early stage most diseases respond positively to treatment, because the visual system of babies is plastic, has sufficient reserves, as it passes the stage of formation.

Common eye diseases in children

The baby receives some eye diseases by inheritance, there are also congenital pathologies, others appear due to inflammatory process in organism. Most frequent eye diseases in newborns are:

• Congenital cataract. It is detected by the grayish glare of the pupil. In this case, the cloudiness of the lens prevents light from entering the eye. Children's vision develops incompletely, the lens must be removed (replaced by an artificial one).

• Congenital glaucoma. It is manifested by increased intraocular pressure, formed as a result of a violation of the development process of passages for the outflow of aqueous humor.
• Strabismus. In infants, the development of the nerves of the oculomotor muscles is not completed, therefore, the deviation of the eye may periodically be observed. However, when the deviations are strong and regular, it is worth visiting a doctor.
• Nystagmus. It is characterized by involuntary eye movement. This deviation does not allow to fix the gaze, to form clear vision.
• Ptosis. Expressed in omission century ... The main reasons are underdevelopment of the eyelid muscle, damage to its nerve. Correcting in age three to seven years by performing surgical treatment.

• Retinopathy premature... The full growth of retinal vessels stops. The development of fibrous tissue is observed. Accordingly, the retina is scarred, exfoliated, and blindness may occur. Surgical, laser treatment is used.

For preschoolers, the following are characteristicdiseases:

• Strabismus. External manifestation - deviation of the eye. It is the result of disturbances in the perception of visual information, conducting it according to visual system... There is a decrease in visual acuity, a violation of the connection between the eyes. The ability of volumetric perception is lost. Treatment is strictly individual.

• Amblyopia. The child uses one eye less often than the other. Cause: deviation of the eye to the side, blurred vision. Treatment involves training the affected eye.

• Hyperopia. It is more often diagnosed in children from three to six years old. When hyperopia reaches 3.5 diopters and above, glasses are prescribed.
• Astigmatism. Common cause poor eyesight... There is a distortion of the image of objects as a result of a violation of the sphericity of the lens, cornea. Corrected with glasses.
• Macular dystrophy. Disease of hereditary predisposition. Develops slowly, can lead to complete blindness. Examination inside the eyeball reveals yellow , brown spots. The late stage is characterized by the formation of a focus of atrophy, the optic nerve stops functioning.

Schoolchildren are more likely to suffer from the following visual impairments:

• Accommodation disorder. It is characterized by the loss of the eye's ability to clearly perceive objects at a distance. The reason is a malfunction of the ciliary muscle, a decrease in the elasticity of the lens. Often violated in adolescents focusing eyes long time at close range. This condition is known as title false myopia. It is removed with special drops, gymnastics.
• Usually occurs in the period of 8-14 years due to the heavy load on the ciliary body, iris, intensive eye growth. Corrected with minus lenses.

• Lack of convergence. This is a violation of binocular function, namely, the ability to keep the eyes on a specific object at close range. Due to the deviation of the eye, double vision is obtained. Exotropy appears spontaneously, at the moment of tension. This disease provokes a headache, does not allow you to concentrate.
• Binocular vision disorder. It is binocular (with both eyes) vision, which is fully formed by the age of twelve, to obtain a single full-fledged image of an object. Among the causes of its violation, damage to the muscles of the eye, sometimes general diseases, is noted.
• Destruction of the vitreousbody. Spherical shape gives the eye a vitreous body that fills it from the inside. The clouded fibers of this body cause apparent dots, "flies" that move during eye movement. The disease is determined using ophthalmoscopy.

Frequent pathologies

The result of pathologies is visual impairment, its decrease. Congenital gross anomaliesorganvision are detected even in the hospital during examination, it can be:

• absence of an eye, change in its size;
• absence, underdevelopment of the eyelids;
• reduction of the eyeball;
• underdevelopment of the palpebral fissure.

According to statistics, there is one case of congenital glaucoma for every 10 thousand newborns. A common pathology also includes congenital cataract, which accounts for up to 60% of all pathologies in newborns.

During the period of development, such deviations as myopia, hyperopia often occur.

A certain place is given to injuries. The following damages are distinguished:

• thermal - the ingress of boiling water, hot oil;
• mechanical (superficial, penetrating);
• beam (exposure to infrared, ultraviolet radiation);
• chemical (burns with alkali, acid).

Taking into account the alleged disease, clinical and laboratory studies are carried out. Sometimes it is necessary X-ray examination skull, sinuses. There are cases that require the advice of other specialists, such as a neurologist.

Highlighting causes of eye disease in children, indicate:

• heredity;
• congenital diseases such as volvulus of the eyelids;
• eye strain;
• allergic diseases;
• different types of injury.

Frequent cases when diagnosedinfectious eye diseases in children, provoked pathogenic microorganisms... Among them:

• Conjunctivitis. Emergence inflammation of the mucous membrane is provoked by bacteria, some viruses, fungi (much less often). Sometimes allergic conjunctivitis. The reason development of the disease can become: banal hypothermia, colds, often decreased immunity, dirty hands. The disease is dangerous with complications in the form of corneal opacity, and then a decrease in vision. In weakened babies, the infection can provoke meningitis or otitis media.
• Blepharitis it inflammation the ciliary edges of the eyelids, which are provoked by bacteria, viruses, and also fungi. There is allergic blepharitis. The risk of developing an inflammatory process increases: improperly organized hygienic care, a significant weakening of the immune system, the usual hypothermia.
• Barley. Is inflammation hair follicle for a century. Provoked Staphylococcus aureus... Often signals a decrease in the child's immunity, endocrine disorders, the presence chronic diseases, helminthic invasion.

Reasons provokinginflammatory eye diseases in childrenare few and well known. Allocate:

• infectious inflammation;
• traumatic injury;
• exposure to aggressive substances (alkalis, acids).

It is worth distinguishing between true inflammation and simple redness, for example, from smoke, wind, bright light, which will pass on its own.

Parents should be attentive to this issue and periodically for preventive purposes.Most diseases tend to progress quickly, and with certain symptoms, an appeal to a specialist is mandatory, among them:

• double vision;
• violation of coordination of movements;
• complaints related to eye fatigue;
• squinting;
• dizziness caused by eye strain;
• the ability to read only for a short time;
• one eye wanders;
• frequent blinking;
• the child's desire to cover his eyes with his hand;
• impaired hand-eye coordination.

An experienced doctor will accurately diagnose the disease and prescribe the necessary therapy. Corrective glasses are often practiced. Parents can be offered to teach their child in a special school, where the necessary exercises are done to restore vision.

Medical professionalism and responsibility of parents will be able to prevent the appearance and development of many diseases. Be sure to periodically monitor the health of the baby's eyes. A prophylactic visit to a doctor is recommended at one, three and six months, then at the age of one, three, five and seven years. Students should have an eye exam once a year throughout the course. If a disease or predisposition to it is detected, extraordinary examinations are done in agreement with the doctor.

To confirm or deny their doubts about the child's health, parents can initially independently test the baby's eyesight. For example, a baby under one year old should respond to bright light and fix a gaze on it, at 7-8 months the child is able to react to familiar impressions. At the age of three, a test is used to recognize the figures in the picture. If the child is older, you can ask to write the letter E on the chalkboard in different positions. However, regular visits to the doctor are required.

Diagnostics at the ophthalmological center

The ZIP clinic is 100% guaranteed to detect an emerging problem or confirm its absence. It employs a team of professionals who have at their disposal modern equipment from leading companies.

For children, a basic, standard and complete ophthalmological examination has been developed and offered. In the clinic, everything starts with an acquaintance. When the little patient gets used to the doctor, the examination begins. Offered:

• measurement of intraocular pressure.
• determination of the nature of vision;
• autorefractometry;
• establishing the angle of strabismus;
• test of visual acuity;
• examination anterior segment eye;
• fundus check.

The center's methods allow:

• diagnose and treat viral, bacterial conjunctivitis, keratitis;
• eliminate obstruction of the lacrimal canal;
• delete foreign bodies cornea, conjunctiva;
• identify and treat astigmatism, amblyopia, myopia, using the technique of hardware treatment;
• fulfill surgery pathologies;
• observe small patients after surgery.

How to treat eye diseases in children under one year old

Returning from the hospital, parents should carefully monitor the development of the baby, not missing the moments of formation visual functions... The first visit to the ophthalmologist takes up to three months. It is during these periods that most congenital diseases are diagnosed. If the pathologies are not established, the next visit to the doctor is panned when the child grows up to six months and the basic structures of the eye that affect the focusing of the image begin to mature.

The first symptoms of most diseases up to a year are:

• the appearance of strabismus;
• slow tracking of a moving object or its complete absence;
• discharge that can accumulate on the eyelids, in the corners of the eyes;
• redness of the tunica albuginea.

As a rule, the impaired function is restored with adequate treatment. Therefore, you should not postpone visiting a doctor and self-medicate. At the ZIR clinic 100%, after a consultation, the doctor will offer the most painless and informative examination. The necessary treatment and surgical intervention are carried out by high-class specialists.

Prevention of children's eye diseases

Effective prevention of eye inflammation is to teach the child to observe hygiene, not to touch or rub his eyes with his hands. It is important to teach the kid not to watch TV for a long time, to limit the time of playing at the computer. Such measures can protect against bacterial inflammation. Also, systematic standard prevention measures will increase the child's immunity, which will reduce the chances of developing most diseases. Content such prevention involves:

• frequent walks;
• going in for sports;
• food fortified with vitamins;
• healthy, active image life;
• exercises that help relieve eye fatigue.

The stands of the clinic and the site offer parents photos of signs of certain diseases, a brief description of them, so that attention is paid to possible deviations in time.