Eye pain in children can be caused by various things, ranging from infections, irritations, to birth defects. Children tend to be difficult to express their complaints, therefore parents need to be more introspective in recognizing the type of eye pain that is often experienced by children.
As a parent, you must be worried when Little One complains that his eyes hurt. At the same time, you may also feel confused because you do not know what causes your child to experience eye pain and how to treat it.
Well, consider the following review so you can help your child relieve eye pain.
Common Eye Pain in Children
Here are some types of eye diseases that are most often experienced by children and how to deal with it:
1. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the tissue around the eyes and on the inside of the eyelid. This condition can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergic reactions, to irritation due to exposure to chemicals, dust, or smoke.
Children who experience conjunctivitis can show several symptoms, such as:
- Being fussy because his eyes are sore or itchy.
- Puffy eyes.
- Frequently rubbing or rubbing the eyes because the eyes feel uncomfortable.
- Watery and red eyes.
- Crusts appear in the eyes (belek).
Conjunctivitis due to viral and bacterial infections can be easily transmitted to others, whereas conjunctivitis due to irritation or allergic reactions are non-communicable.
To treat this condition, the child should be seen by a doctor. The doctor will determine the diagnosis and type of conjunctivitis based on the results of the child's eye examination.
After the cause and type of conjunctivitis are known, the doctor will determine the treatment of conjunctivitis according to the cause. If this condition is caused by a bacterial infection, then antibiotic eye drops or eye ointment can be given to overcome it.
However, if inflammation is caused by an allergy, the doctor can prescribe an hypo-allergenic drug in the form of eye drops, syrup, or syrup.
During the child has this eye pain, there are treatments that can be done at home to help alleviate complaints felt by the Little One. This treatment can take the form of cold compresses interspersed with warm compresses in the eyes and remind children to wash their hands and not rub their eyes.
2. Bintitan
In addition to conjunctivitis, sterility is also a common eye disease in children. These small lumps that grow in or around the eyelid are usually caused by a bacterial infection.
Fertilization can occur more easily if the child does not maintain the cleanliness of his eyes or has certain habits, such as rubbing his eyes often with dirty hands. Fortunately, staples can heal and collapse by themselves within 1-2 weeks without treatment.
While waiting for the child's condition to improve, you can help relieve the symptoms felt by the child by giving a warm compress for 5-10 minutes to the affected eye. This compress can be repeated 3-4 times a day. Do not forget to always remind your child not to press the bump in his eyes.
However, immediately take your child to the ophthalmologist if stubborn continues for 2 weeks, accompanied by fever, swelling and severe pain in the eye, and bleeding or pus from the lump.
3. Orbital cellulitis
This child's eye pain is a condition that requires caution. Orbital cellulitis is a bacterial infection of fat, muscle and bone tissue, around the eyeball. This infection can spread from the sinus cavity (sinusitis) or occur when a child has an injury to the eye.
Children who experience eye pain will show some complaints, such as:
- Swollen and red eyes, making it difficult for children to close their eyes.
- Fussy because they feel pain in the eyes.
- Vision is impaired.
- Fever.
- Difficult to move the eyeball.
If the child shows some of the symptoms above, immediately take your child to the eye doctor to get the examination and the right treatment. Late treatment can increase the risk of your child experiencing a number of complications, such as meningitis, sepsis, and blindness.
To overcome orbital cellulitis in children, the doctor will give antibiotic treatment. In more severe cases or if antibiotic drugs do not succeed in treating eye pain in this child, the doctor needs to perform surgery on the eye.
4. Obstruction of the tear glands
If your child is under 1 year old and has symptoms of continuous tears coming out, swelling around the eyes, eyelids sticking together, and eyes appearing to be crusty, it could be a sign that your child is suffering from blocked tears.
This condition is common in a newborn child and will heal itself after he grows up (usually improves after the child is around 1 year old).
To alleviate complaints and symptoms felt by the child when he has tears gland obstruction, try to rub or gently massage his eyelids. After a massage, the child's eyes can also be given warm compresses 2-3 times a day.
But don't forget, before and after massaging it, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.
In addition to some eye problems above, children can also experience some other eye pain, such as:
- Refractive disorders of the eye (nearsightedness or farsightedness).
- Cockeye.
- Lazy eyes or amblyopia (lazy eyes).
- Glaucoma.
- Cataract.
- Premature retinopathy, which is a disruption in the retina of the baby's eye that occurs due to babies born too fast (under 31 weeks).
Some eye diseases above are generally caused by congenital abnormalities or congenital birth defects that have occurred since the child is still in the womb.
When children complain of interference or pain in the eye, try not to panic. If the complaints felt by the child do not improve, immediately bring the child to consult further with an ophthalmologist to get the examination and the right treatment.
