How can children's eye astigmatism be corrected?

Generally, childhood eye astigmatism may be caused by irregular corneal development, abnormal eyelid pressure, refractive amblyopia, keratitis, congenital cataracts, and other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and improve the condition under a doctor's guidance through optical correction, medication, surgical treatment, and other methods. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Irregular corneal development: During the developmental stage, the child's cornea may develop asymmetrically, causing abnormal light refraction and resulting in astigmatism, often congenital. Refractive testing should be conducted at a reputable hospital, and appropriate corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses should be worn to correct light refraction and improve visual quality. Follow-up evaluations should be performed every six months to one year, adjusting lens parameters according to corneal development.

2. Abnormal eyelid pressure: Continuous pressure on the cornea caused by habitual eye rubbing, eyelid laxity, or swelling in children may alter the corneal shape and induce astigmatism. The habit of eye rubbing should be corrected. If eyelid swelling occurs, cold compresses may help alleviate it. Maintaining ocular hygiene daily can help prevent discomfort caused by allergies or inflammation.

3. Refractive amblyopia: Uncorrected astigmatism in children may lead to blurred retinal images, affecting visual development and resulting in amblyopia characterized by vision below the level of same-aged peers. Corrective astigmatism glasses should be worn first, followed by medication as directed by a physician, such as Levodopa tablets, Cytidine diphosphate-choline sodium capsules, and Mecobalamin tablets, to assist treatment.

4. Keratitis: Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, etc., may lead to keratitis. After the inflammation heals, scarring may remain, altering the corneal refractive state and causing astigmatism, accompanied by eye pain, photophobia, and tearing. For bacterial infections, medications such as Tobramycin eye drops, Levofloxacin eye drops, and Erythromycin ointment should be used per medical instructions to control the infection. For viral infections, medications such as Acyclovir eye drops, Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel, and Ribavirin eye drops are recommended.

5. Congenital cataracts: Congenital lens opacity in children affects light entry into the eye and may be accompanied by lens refractive abnormalities, inducing astigmatism and potentially causing severe visual development disorders. If cataracts affect vision, phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation should be performed to remove the cloudy lens and implant an appropriate artificial lens.

Daily management should include limiting children's screen time on electronic devices to no more than 20 minutes per session, followed by distant gazing to relax the eyes. Incorporating foods rich in vitamin A and lutein, such as carrots, blueberries, and egg yolks, into the diet helps maintain eye health and supports stable astigmatism correction.