In order to ensure the adequate development of the child's visual system, it is essential that ophthalmic alterations are duly detected as early as possible during childhood.
The most common diseases that should be ruled out are:
- Congenital cataracts.
- Intraocular Tumors in Infants.
- Refractive Defects: myopia, hypermetric eyesight, astigmatism.
- Strabismus: accommodative, paralytic, etc.
- Amblyopia or Lazy Eye.
Children should be examined within a few months after birth, in order to rule out congenital diseases, such as: cataracts, alterations in the corneal structure, etc., or the presence of a tumor (retinoblastoma).
Between the first and third year of life children should be evaluated for detection of strabismus (the patient may squint one or both eyes, either sporadically or continuously), or to rule out a "lazy eye" condition (the patient is not able to follow images clearly when closing the "good" eye).
Children who are three years of age and older are evaluated to test their visual acuity (provided the child cooperates) and ocular motor function.