Astigmatism in Children
The condition arises from an irregular refracting optical system in the eye: instead of converging to a single point, a beam of light "carrying an image" entering the eye is brought to focus as two separate lines, causing vision to deteriorate. As a rule, the child does not complain of visual problems, since the brain adapts quickly to a blurred image.
Both the child and their parents typically notice the problem during the school years, when the "defocus" causes the child to confuse similarly shaped letters and numbers, and to tire quickly when reading or writing. It is important to understand: the earlier astigmatism treatment begins, the more effective the therapy will be.
Causes of Astigmatism
- Heredity is the most common cause. If one parent has astigmatism, the child has a high probability of having it too.
- Acquired astigmatism is less common. It may arise from eye trauma, surgery, certain conditions (such as keratoconus), or eyelid pathology.
It should be noted that many newborns have what is known as physiological astigmatism (approximately 0.5–1 dioptre). This is considered normal and typically resolves on its own by the first year of life, without affecting visual acuity.
Signs of Astigmatism
We recommend that parents watch for the following signs, and if they are present, have the child examined by an ophthalmologist:
- The child squints, or tilts their head at different angles to see an object more clearly
- Frequently rubs their eyes, or complains of eye fatigue, particularly after reading or drawing
- Complains of headaches following visual exertion
- Confuses letters and symbols of similar shape
- Holds objects very close to their face to examine them
Even in the absence of obvious complaints, routine ophthalmological examination should have been carried out at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, particularly if the family has a history of astigmatism or other vision problems. Thorough diagnostics using modern methods can identify the presence and degree of the condition. In some cases, regular wear of specialist glasses will be sufficient for correction; more complex cases will require conservative treatment.
Types of Astigmatism
A newborn typically has direct astigmatism of approximately 1.0 dioptre.
During the first year of life, astigmatism in children reduces to 0.5–0.75 dioptres — this is known as physiological astigmatism. It does not affect vision and is considered normal.
In preschool and school-age children, astigmatism tends to remain stable, though in some cases it may increase or decrease in parallel with changes in the eye's refraction.
By type:
- Direct — refraction is stronger in the vertical meridian
- Inverse — refraction is stronger in the horizontal meridian
- Oblique axis — both meridians lie in the sectors of 30°–50° and 120°–150°
By form:
Simple astigmatism in children:
- Hyperopic — combination of hyperopia in one meridian with emmetropia in the other
- Myopic — combination of myopia in one meridian with emmetropia in the other
- Hyperopic — combination of hyperopia of different degrees
- Myopic — combination of myopia of different degrees
Diagnostics
Diagnostics of astigmatism in children at Crystal Vision children's eye clinics is a fast, accurate and entirely painless process using modern equipment. Our paediatric ophthalmologists work excellently with young patients and find an approach even to the most challenging children.
At Crystal Vision, astigmatism diagnostics include several key procedures:
- Amblyopia ("lazy eye") — the brain, to avoid confusion, begins to ignore the blurred image from the weaker eye and effectively "switches it off"
- Deterioration of vision and progression of myopia
- Persistent visual fatigue (asthenopia), leading to headaches, irritability and reduced school performance
Comprehensive diagnostics not only identifies astigmatism but also determines its degree and type, and helps exclude the possibility of complications — the risk of developing amblyopia and strabismus. This is essential for prescribing effective treatment and optimal correction.
Treatment
Main methods of astigmatism correction:
- Spectacle correction
- Contact lenses
- Laser correction
Indications for astigmatism correction:
- Astigmatism of any degree accompanied by amblyopia and/or asthenopia
- Physiological-range astigmatism, if the other eye has astigmatism requiring correction
What happens if astigmatism is left untreated
If astigmatism is not corrected, it can lead to the following complications:
If astigmatism is not corrected, it can lead to the following complications:
- Skiascopy — used to determine the refracting power of the eye, using a set of positive and negative lenses of different dioptres
- Autorefractometry — provides data on the radius, diameter and degree of the disorder, needed for subsequent selection of corrective glasses or lenses
- Keratometry — determines corneal curvature and identifies the presence of keratoconus
- Visual evoked potentials — identifies specific amblyopia using specialist stimuli
At Crystal Vision clinics we successfully treat astigmatism. However, timely consultation with a specialist is critically important. Remember: your child's eye health is in the hands of their parents. Do not put off taking care of their vision!
