Do you know? Vision development is not complete at birth , it continues throughout the first years of life. During this period, any aggression of the visual system may trigger a vision disorder. Also, if children visual impairments are diagnosed timely, the likelihood of vision recovery is higher. Amblyopia is a cause of decreased vision in many children, who may not have any symptoms. When amblyopia is not diagnosed and treated while vision is still developing, vision loss can be irreversible. Early screening and targeted actions allow strabismus to be treated, avoiding treatable vision deficits that will have significant implications for children future performance. When and how to assess children vision All children must undergo a regular vision evaluation performed in a pediatric consultation. According to the guidelines of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Oftalmologia, the assessment of children vision includes several tests and must be performed at the following ages: | Children under 1 year-old Tests: Red reflex Fixing and tracking objects (3 months) Eye alignment and reaction to each eye occlusion (6 months) | Children 1-3 years old Tests: Red reflex Fixing and tracking objects Evaluation of eye alignment and reaction to each eye occlusion | Children 3-6 years old Tests: Monocular visual acuity for far and for near Stereoscopic acuity Eye alignment Children aged 3-6 years should also be evaluated in an ophthalmology consultation . The intervention of an ophthalmologist is also indicated when, at any age, there is evidence or suspicion of alterations in the ophthalmological evaluation , namely: Anomaly in the external eye exam; Leukocoria; Strabismus; Decrease of visual acuity; Poor stereoscopic vision. The ophthalmological examination with be completed with the evaluation of the refractive error of the eye. What does an ophthalmological evaluation includes: The red reflex test assesses the transparency of eye tissues and detects opacities due to, for example, to cataracts, retinoblastomas, retinal detachments and refractive differences between the eyes. The Hirschberg test , carried out from the age of 3, evaluates the eye alignment by applying a focus of light on the pupil and checking the symmetry of the pupillary reflex, as well as alternating occlusion of the eyes. The use of scales appropriate to each age group assesses monocular visual acuity from far and near. The identification of differences between the two eyes in two or more lines or the absence of minimal visual acuity raises the suspicion of amblyopia. The Lang test assesses vision in depth and detects small deviations in eye alignment, using a stereogram with four figures. Author : Maria Catarina Paiva Meet the Ophthalmology team of Hospital da Luz network . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item
