Eye problems in young children

Your newborn baby’s eyesight takes time to develop, but goes from being very limited at birth to almost adult-like clarity by around eight months.

Newborn babies tend to have very puffy eyes or crossed eyes and can’t focus on objects more than 8-12 inches away. This is perfectly normal and as your child grows his eyesight will improve, the cross eyes or puffiness should disappear after a few weeks and he’ll be able to focus much further. As your baby gets older other common eye problems may occur, but most are harmless and can be treated successfully at home. You can check your baby’s eyesight by observing how his eyes follow your face, or a brightly colored object some distance away.

From around three months on, your baby will lose his cross-eyed look and start to focus properly on objects that are further away. If you notice your baby having trouble moving one or both of his eyes in all directions, or if he’s crossed eyed most of the time or his eyes tend to turn outwards, speak to your pediatrician.

Conjunctivitis

Also known as pinkeye, this common childhood disease can be caused by a virus or bacteria. Symptoms include red, weepy eyes, yellowish pus and sensitivity to bright light. If you’re sure your child has nothing in his eye, take him to your pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis – this is especially important if it’s your newborn, since he may have a blockage in his tear ducts or his condition could be related to Chlamydia. Your pediatrician will prescribe antibiotic drops or ointment if it is conjunctivitis. Allergies such as hay fever can also cause your child’s eyes to appear red and weepy, especially if she’s older – your pediatrician may recommend antihistamines if allergies are suspected. See also conjunctivitis.

Sticky eye

Sticky eye is a mild infection that sometimes affects newborn babies in the first few weeks of life. It’s usually caused by blood or amniotic fluid getting into your baby’s eye during the delivery, causing it to become sticky with pus and possibly sticking causing his eyelids to stick together when he sleeps. Get it checked out by your pediatrician – she’ll likely recommend that you bathe your baby’s eyes with tepid, previously boiled water.

Sty

A sty forms when a tiny oil gland at the base of one of your baby’s eyelashes becomes infected by bacteria. This causes a small boil, which may ooze pus, to appear. Stys are harmless and usually clear up naturally within a few days, but you can ease the irritation for your child and encourage the boil to burst sooner by soaking a washcloth in warm water and holding it over his eye. Don’t try to pop the sty. Wash your baby’s hands frequently if he’s rubbing at his eye; if your older child develops a sty, try to encourage him not to rub it as he may pass the infection to his other eye, and ensure he washes his hands as often as possible.

If your child’s sty hasn’t drained after a week of warm compresses, or he has more than one, take him to see your pediatrician in case he needs antibiotic treatment.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 20/06/2007

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