![]() ![]() If your little one appears to be overly sensitive to light, it could indicate astigmatism. Individuals with astigmatism have difficulty filtering light, which often causes light to appear blurry, streaky or “smeared” with high glare, which makes it hard to focus. In between visits, it’s important to be vigilant and keep an eye out for symptoms that could indicate astigmatism in your child, including: Light sensitivity Fortunately there are a series of screenings performed during a pediatrician’s appointment to check for any eye or vision problems. It’s difficult to pinpoint astigmatism in children because they typically are unable to vocalize the vision issues they experience. A research study on preschool astigmatism found that African American and Hispanic children are at a higher risk of astigmatism than non-Hispanic Caucasian children. The ethnicity of a child can also determine their likelihood of having astigmatism. Smoking during pregnancy - Studies have shown a link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and astigmatism in the child postnatal. It’s presence in children also makes astigmatism more likely. Hyperopia - Also referred to as “ farsightedness,” this refractive error is myopia’s counterpart. Myopia - If another common refractive error, commonly called “ nearsightedness,” is present in the child, it can heighten the chances of astigmatism occurring as well. While it’s relatively common for children ages 6 to 12 months to have astigmatism (around 23%) there are a few factors that may increase the likelihood of infant astigmatism.įamily history - It is suspected that astigmatism is hereditary, which means the trait is passed down to the baby from their parents, grandparents, etc. However, there is not a specific cause for the abnormality - it’s simply an irregularity within the structure of the eye. ![]() On a basic level, astigmatism is caused by abnormal curvature in the eye’s cornea or lens. So, take a deep breath, relax and read on, parents. Having information regarding what causes pediatric astigmatism and what it means for your baby, makes navigating this new territory less overwhelming. So, when they learn that their baby has astigmatism, it can leave parents feeling shocked, overwhelmed and scared.Īstigmatism may sound like a big, scary word, but it’s in fact very common in infants and young children. It’s natural for parents to want the best for their children, especially when it comes to their health and well-being. ![]()
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