Many eye diseases affect people worldwide. Some of these conditions develop later in life, but others can appear early on, affecting children and young adults. Early-onset eye diseases can be quite challenging, especially when it comes to diagnosing and treating them. Read on to learn five facts you didn’t know about early-onset eye disease so you can take much better care of your eyes.
Early-Onset Eye Disease Is Common
Several eye diseases can appear during childhood and adolescence, including amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive errors. These disorders can lead to lifelong vision problems if individuals do not seek treatment as soon as possible.
Consider taking your child in for their first comprehensive eye exam when they are six months old. Their second eye exam should occur when they are three years old, and you should schedule the third before they begin school.
Genetics Play a Significant Role
Many eye diseases have a genetic component, such as retinoblastoma, congenital glaucoma, and Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. You should speak to an ophthalmologist or genetic counselor about your risk of developing the above conditions if you have a family history of early-onset eye disease. Detecting these early can help prevent vision loss or blindness.
Diagnosing Early-Onset Eye Disease Can Be Challenging
Getting a diagnosis of early-onset eye disease can be difficult since it is a rare condition. Symptoms may also vary depending on the type of eye disease, making it even harder to diagnose. Children may also find it difficult to explain their vision problems, leading parents to overlook the issue. Therefore, booking a comprehensive eye exam with an ophthalmologist is crucial if you notice any unusual symptoms.
Treatment Is Possible
Treatment for early-onset eye disease can take several forms, such as medications, corrective lenses, surgery, or vision therapy. The latter is a non-invasive approach used to treat certain vision problems. It involves the use of visual exercises and other techniques to improve hand-eye coordination, visual motor skills, and visual perception.
Lifestyle Changes Can Help
Something else you didn’t know about early-onset eye disease is that you can help prevent it with lifestyle changes. Protecting your eyes from the sun by wearing protective eyewear with 99% to 100% UV absorption is one way to prevent UV radiation damage.
A diet of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids can also help prevent age-related eye conditions. Regular exercise and restful sleep can also improve your overall eye health.
Ophthalmologists use tonopen tips when checking your eyes for early-onset eye disease. They can purchase quality, North American-made covers from Automated Ophthalmics. We make the covers ourselves, so we can keep professionals supplied and ready to accurately diagnose the health of your eyes.