Introduction
Dry eyes are a common problem for children, but they can be hard to spot in your little one because the symptoms aren’t the same as for adults. Dry eyes in children tend to be more uncomfortable than painful, and treatment can help get things back on track.
What is dry eyes in children?
Dry eyes are a common condition that can affect your child’s vision and cause eye infections.
In children, dry eyes may be caused by allergies or rubbing the eyes too much. It can also be a symptom of congenital or inherited disorders such as Sjogren’s Syndrome and keratoconus (when the cornea becomes cone-shaped). Children who wear contact lenses for long periods of time are at risk for developing dry eye syndrome because their eyelids do not produce enough tears to keep them moistened properly.
How do you know if your child has dry eyes?
If you notice your child has dry eyes, there are some signs that can help you determine if it’s a problem.
Dryness. If your child complains about feeling like their eyes are “dry” or scratchy, he or she may have dry eyes. This symptom can also be accompanied by a gritty feeling in the eye and/or redness of the lids (conjunctiva).Reduced tear production. When tears evaporate too quickly from the surface of your child’s cornea, they won’t be replaced with fresh ones as quickly as they should be; this causes less lubrication for his or her eyes and leads to irritation over time–a classic sign of dry eye syndrome in children!
Can dry eyes be painful for your child?
Dry eyes can be painful for your child. Pain is a common symptom of dry eye syndrome and can cause discomfort, irritation, and redness. Your child may also have other symptoms like itching or stinging in their eyes.
If you notice these signs of dry eye in your child:
Talk to your doctor about how to treat their condition. The right treatment will depend on the cause of the problem and how severe it is; some people need only mild treatments while others need more aggressive therapies such as punctal plugs or medications injected into their tear ducts (lacrimal canaliculi).
Is there anything that can be done to help?
If your child has dry eyes, there are things you can do to help.Eye drops. These work by increasing the amount of tears that their eyes produce and keeping their eyes moist.
Protective eye wear. If your kids spend a lot of time in front of screens or playing video games, they might need to wear protective eyewear that covers their entire field of vision. This helps prevent their eyelids from rubbing against each other and causing irritation (and also keeps them from damaging their vision).
Lubricating eye ointments or gels . These products are designed specifically for newborns who have just been born; they contain ingredients like aloe vera gel or carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) which help reduce inflammation while moisturizing dry skin around the eyes’ surface area
If you think your child might have dry eyes, get them checked.
If your child is experiencing dry eyes and discomfort, it’s important to get them checked by an eye doctor. The doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of the symptoms and recommend a treatment plan that works for your child.
Conclusion
Dry eyes can be a difficult condition to manage, but with the right treatment and care, it’s possible to make your child more comfortable. If you think your child might have dry eyes, get them checked by an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Leave a Reply