首次眼检应该在六个月大时进行

首次眼检应该在六个月大时进行

美国密苏里州圣路易城---2004年6月31日---在美国，视力失调是第四大常见疾病，同时也是儿童期最普遍的残疾障碍。

格林*T*斯蒂勒医生是位于孟斐斯城的南部视力测定学院的儿科及视觉诊疗服务主管，他还是临床教授及个人从业者。斯蒂勒医生最近在美国视力测定协会（AOA）于拉斯维加斯召开的年会上发言，表示大多数视力失调是可以觉察到和治疗好的，而且如果在儿童早期就发现，还是可以预防的。

然而，据目前的估计，五岁以下的儿童只有14%接受过全面的眼睛检查。

“大多数父母没有意识到尽早给孩子作眼睛检查，从而尽早纠正视觉缺陷而不浪费孩子成长时的宝贵时间是非常重要的，”斯蒂勒医生说，“现在的视力测定方法完全能够对儿童的视力问题进行早期探测、分析和治疗。但是我们是没有办法对不到医院的患者作任何分析的，”斯蒂勒医生继续说道，“对我们的统计数据的一个保守估计表明至少有10%到15%（800万至1200万）的孩子有未觉察到的视力缺陷。这是一个很重要的数据，尤其是当你的孩子就是其中之一时。”

通常，父母亲或老师会以为这些孩子患上的是其它毛病，包括阅读困难和缺乏自信等。斯蒂勒医生和AOA则建议每个孩子在六个月大的时候进行一次全面眼睛检查，然后在三岁时和上学前再各作一次。

如果一个孩子患上了未觉察到的视力缺陷，诸如弱视，斜视或严重的近视或远视，会有什么后果呢？“视力缺陷，不管是明显的还是隐秘的，都会对孩子的成长产生深远的影响。父母亲可能会感到孩子的发育不正常，但是有一些隐藏的因素他们无法觉察到，像弱视这种情况一般是逐步加重的。”斯蒂勒医生说。

事实上，大脑会忽视患有弱视的眼睛传送的图像，直到不再使用那只眼睛。“到了这一步，就很难有效地治疗弱视了。需要良好深度感知的活动就有可能很困难或无法完成。更有甚者，如果连好的那只眼睛也受伤或出现视力缺陷，你的孩子就很难进行正常活动了。”斯蒂勒医生建议道。

根据国家眼科学院的报告，儿童时期的视力缺陷往往会导致延缓发育和需要接受特殊的教育、职业和社会服务等，通常会阻碍少年儿童进入成年期。“去一次眼科医院理论上是可以改变你的孩子的未来和希望的。”

原文如下：

First Eye Exam Should Be At Age Six Months

ST. LOUIS, MO -- June 31, 2004 -- Vision disorders are the fourth most common disability in the United States and the most prevalent handicapping condition in childhood.

Many of these disorders can be detected, treated, and even prevented if caught early in a child's life, according to Dr. Glen T. Steele, clinical professor and chief of Pediatric and Vision Therapy Service at the Southern College of Optometry and private practitioner in Memphis. Dr. Steele recently spoke at the American Optometric Association's (AOA) annual meeting in Las Vegas.

It is currently estimated, however, that only 14 percent of children under age five receive a comprehensive eye exam.

"Most parents don't realize that it is critical to have a child's eyes examined early, at six months, to correct vision impairments early and not waste valuable time in a child's development," said Dr. Steele. "Current optometric practices are quite capable of early detection, diagnosis and treatment of childhood vision problems. But we can't make a diagnosis on patients who we are not meeting," continued Dr. Steele. "A conservative interpretation of our statistics indicates that at least 10 to 15 percent (eight to 12 million) of children are at risk for undetected vision impairments. This is a significant statistic, especially if your child is one of those affected."

Often, from a parent's or teacher's perspective, these children look like they suffer from a variety of problems, including reading difficulties and lack of self-esteem. Dr. Steele and the AOA suggest that every child have a comprehensive eye exam at six months, again at 3 years, and another before starting school.

What is the reality for a child with undetected vision impairments, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed-eyes), or severe nearsightedness or farsightedness? "Visual impairment, whether obvious or subtle, can have a profound effect on a child's development. Parents might suspect the child is not developing normally, but there are hidden factors a parent can't detect, like the lazy eye that is steadily growing weaker," said Dr. Steele.

The brain virtually ignores images being sent by the amblyopic or weaker eye, until that eye becomes unused. "It is quite difficult to effectively treat amblyopia at this point. Activities requiring good depth perception may be difficult or impossible to perform. In addition, should the good eye become injured or develop vision problems, your child may have difficulty maintaining normal activities," advises Dr. Steele.

According to the National Eye Institute, visual impairment in children is associated with developmental delays and the need for special educational, vocational, and social services, often beyond childhood into adulthood. "A trip to the optometrist can literally change your child's outlook and future," adds Dr. Steele.

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