Cataract also occurs in children. Symptoms of cataracts are double vision, blurred vision, light sensitivity, trouble seeing in the dark, inability or difficulty seeing colours and impaired focus. Not treating cataracts can lead to blindness. The cause of cataracts in children can be hereditary. In other cases, it can be caused by infections (German measles) during pregnancy.
The treatment
Cataract surgery, where an artificial one replaces the cloudy lens, is the only long-term solution.
A lazy eye forms during early childhood and results from development issues of one of the eyes. This must be detected as early as possible to treat it.
The treatment
Glasses and eye patches are the most common treatments for amblyopia or lazy eye.
Strabismus (crossed eyes) is a common eye condition among children. It is when the eyes are not lined up properly and point in different directions (misaligned). One eye may look straight ahead while the other turns in, out, up, or down. The misalignment can shift from one eye to the other. Six muscles are attached to each eye to control its movement. One muscle moves the eye to the right, and one muscle moves the eye to the left. The other four muscles move the eye up, down, and at an angle. To focus on a single image, all six eye muscles in each eye must work together.
The treatment
Should eyeglasses and/or exercises not work enough to correct the strabismus, surgery on the eye muscles can be the answer.
For you to see, light has to pass through the cornea and lens. These parts of the eye bend — also called refract — the light so that the light is focused directly on the retina at the back of your eye. These tissues translate light into signals sent to the brain, which lets you perceive images. Myopia is also more commonly known as nearsightedness; it happens when the shape of the eye — or the shape of certain parts of the eye — causes light rays to bend or refract. Light rays that should be focused on nerve tissues at the back of the eye called the retina, are focused instead in front of the retina. It is a common vision condition in which close objects look clear, but far objects look blurry. Nearsightedness usually results when the eye is too long or oval-shaped rather than round. It also may result when the curve of the cornea is too steep. With these changes, light rays come to a point in front of the retina and cross. The messages sent from the retina to the brain are perceived as blurry.
The treatment
Blurry vision can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. Children with severe myopia can be treated in various ways to stall the further progression of this eye disease. However, there’s currently no treatment to prevent it. Daylight helps with the release of dopamine in the cornea.
Our accomplishments so far
Treatments
- Over 6,000,000 eye screenings
- Over 800,000 (eye) surgeries
- Handed out over 50,000 eyeglasses
Education
- Trained over 400 eye doctors
- Trained over 2000 eye specialists
- Organised over 40,000 trainings
Medical Centres
- Opened 7 eye clinics
- Opened 24 district eye centres
Together for better vision
Eye Care Foundation actively provides essential eye care to disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities in Asia, South America and Africa. With the support of monetary donations and the work of volunteers, our foundation offers eye exams, treatments, and operations to people who otherwise don’t have access to this crucial care. By working together and sharing knowledge, know-how and access – we can ensure a better vision for everyone.