Everybody knows that you want your little angel to grow up big and strong. We also know the importance of healthy eye and vision development for babies, so have provided some helpful tips on what you can do to aid them and their eyes.
So, we thought we’d take a look at any red flags that could be telling you there’s a problem with your little one’s eyes, and also offer some advice on how to ensure their eyes are kept safe and healthy as they grow.
Excessive tearing
Excessive tearing is common in newborns and may indicate that your baby has blocked tear ducts. This will often improve without the need for treatment, but you can help ease their discomfort by gently massaging each eye from its corner to the nose with your clean index finger. This will release any trapped tears and help the tear duct to develop naturally.
Redness or encrusted eyelids
Any redness of the eye or any encrusting of the eyelid around the eye area could be a sign of conjunctivitis. This can be cleaned by gently bathing the eye in cooled boiled warm water, removing any bacteria or crusting, several times a day.
You should consult your doctor if your baby is less than 28 days old. If your baby is under two years old, you will need a prescription from a GP for the correct treatment.
Extreme light sensitivity
Light sensitivity can be a symptom of a number of things, including headaches, migraines and excessive tearing. However, there may be other more serious conditions to worry about such as glaucoma. It’s therefore important to visit the doctor if you can notice your little one suffering from extreme light sensitivity, just to make sure it’s not being caused by anything serious.
Constant eye turning
Known as Strabismus, this is when your baby’s eyes are constantly turning or are misaligned. It’s important to remember that your baby is just learning how to control their eyes, so it’s very common for eyes to occasionally cross in the first 4 months.
However, if this persists, you should seek medical advice as there are a number of reasons why this could be happening, and if left untreated could lead to a lazy eye condition.
If any of these signs give you reason to worry, don’t hesitate to speak to an optician, optometrist or your local GP to get advice.
