HEALTH Eye care and Down’s Syndrome

Eye care for children with Down’s


Áine Higgins

A local parent asked me at the Special Olympics to write this month’s column on vision problems in children with Down’s Syndrome. I’ve tried to respond by answering some of the common questions parents ask me in practice.

Is my child likely to have eye problems?
Your child is more likely to have an eye problem than a child who does not have Down’s. He or she is ten times more likely to need to wear glasses and seven times more likely to have a squint (eye turn). Your child is also more likely to suffer from eye infections (for example, blepharitis), nystagmus (wobbly eyes) and as he/she gets older, cataract (cloudy lens) and keratoconus (progressive thinning and steepening of the front of the eye). Even if your child does not have any of these problems, research shows that his or her ability to resolve detailed vision will not be as good as it should be.

How will I know if my child has an eye problem?
Some problems, such as nystagmus, will be obvious. If these conditions are not picked up at medical checks, ask your doctor to refer your child to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). Other problems, such as long or short sight and poor accommodation, may be less obvious to you. So, take your child for regular eye examinations to a local optometrist/optician.

How often should my child have his/her eyes checked?
Your child should have regular eye checks as soon as possible if you suspect any problems. Even babies as young as six months can have their eyes checked successfully, by an experienced optometrist. 

What kinds of eye-care professionals are there?
An ophthalmologist (specialist hospital eye doctor), optometrist/ophthalmic optician (prescribes glasses and checks eye health), orthoptist (checks vision and eye alignment and manages binocular vision anomalies, usually in a hospital or clinic).

What can I do if my child won’t wear his/her glasses?
There could be many reasons why your child won’t wear the glasses prescribed. The first thing you should do is have the fit of the glasses checked; no one wants to wear glasses that are uncomfortable.
If the glasses fit properly and the prescription is correct, then it may just be that the feel of the glasses and the ability to see clearly are simply unfamiliar experiences. It may be asking too much to expect your child to wear the glasses all of the time in the early stages. Make sure that you understand what the glasses are for, and when it is most important for your child to wear them. You can then encourage your child to wear his/her glasses in a number of ways:
*Put the glasses on when he/she is doing an activity with you that is enjoyable. This way your child will learn to associate wearing glasses with a pleasant experience. If necessary, make it a short experience, and build up time gradually.
*Put the glasses on in front of a mirror so that your child sees themselves with the glasses on. Children like looking at their own reflection and often forget they have glasses on.
*If you or another member of the family wears glasses, make a big show of putting them on for particular tasks. Most children love to copy others.
*If your child won’t wear their glasses at home then perhaps he or she will wear them at school. Chat to the class teacher and ask for his or her help in trying to persuade your child to keep the glasses on.