Baby Eye Problems

There are several common eye problems that may affect babies, and many of them are easily treatable. An infant's eyes are checked shortly after birth to determine if there are any infections or problems in the eye area such as abnormalities or misshaped eyelids or eyes. When a baby is 6 months old, her eyes are checked by a pediatrician to ensure they are developing properly and there are no problems with alignment and the baby's ability to focus.

  1. Conjunctivitis

    • Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, is a very common infection for babies and causes red itchy eyes. It is the swelling and inflammation of the conjunctiva, or the outer layer of the eye. A virus or bacteria causes conjunctivitis. Some infants get conjunctivitis during birth or from contact with someone already infected. Symptoms include red and watery eyes and yellow-green discharge. A doctor will provide antibiotics to clear conjunctivitis.

    Stye and Chalazion

    • A stye, or hordeolum, is a small bump that forms at the base of the eyelash. It is an infection of sweat glands of the eye. Many times styes are red and swollen in appearance. They are caused by staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection. They are quite common in infants and will clear in 2 to 3 weeks without medical attention. A warm washcloth will help ease the discomfort. A chalazion is similar to a stye but not red or swollen and is caused by a swollen meibomian gland, which is the sebaceous gland at the base of the eyelid. Chalazions will clear without medical treatment and a warm washcloth pressed to the problem eye several times a day.

    Blocked Tear Ducts

    • Some babies are born with blocked tear ducts, which causes babies' tears to back up and can possibly lead to infections. By massaging eyes with a warm washcloth and keeping eyes clear of excess tears, the tear ducts may clear on their own. If ducts do not clear on their own by the time an infant is 1 year old, an ophthalmologist may need to provide surgical treatment.

    Strabismus

    • Strabismus is misalignment of the eyes. This is sometimes seen in infants up to 4 months old. One eye may turn in, or it may turn out giving the appearance of crossed eyes. By 4 months, if an infant is still having problems with strabismus, it is a good idea to have a full eye exam.

    Ptosis

    • Ptosis is caused when the muscles of the upper eyelid don't develop properly and make the eyelid droop. It can happen in one or both eyes. Ptosis can affect the way the eyes develop and can lead to ambylopia, or lazy eye. If the eyelid(s) cause difficulty for the infant to see, surgery may be necessary to fix the problem.

    Visual Inattention

    • By 6 to 8 weeks of age, most infants are able to focus attention on objects and faces. If by this time it doesn't appear that a baby is able to do this, there may be a problem with delayed development of the visual system. Many times the visual system will develop normally, but if an infant still has difficulty concentrating on an object by 3 months of age, a full eye exam is suggested.

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