How to treat eye pain in babies must be adjusted according to the cause.So, don't rush and carelesslygive medicine, moreover without checking from the doctor.
There are various types of eye pain that can occur in babies, ranging from mild to those that require special treatment. Get to know the common types of eye pain experienced by babies and how to treat them through the following explanation.
Type-JTypes of Eye Pain in Babies and How to Treat It
Of the various types of eye diseases, there are three types of eye pain that are often experienced by babies. Here is an explanation of the three types of eye pain in babies and how to treat them:
Red eye
Pink eye or conjunctivitis occurs when the conjunctiva becomes inflamed due to irritation, allergic reaction, viral infection, or bacterial infection. Red eyes experienced by babies usually begin with itching which makes the baby rub their eyes more often, as well as swelling in one or both of the baby's eyelids.
There are several ways to treat pink eye in babies, depending on the cause. If the red eye is caused by irritation from exposure to dust, you can simply clean and compress the baby's eyelids with a warm compress. This red eye complaint will usually go away on its own within a few days.
However, if pink eye is the result of a bacterial infection or allergy, you need to see your baby's doctor. This is because the condition experienced by the baby may require treatment, such as ointments or eye drops containing antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Clogged tear ducts
Clogged tear ducts are a common condition experienced by babies. This condition can occur because the baby's tear ducts are not fully developed. Blockage of the tear ducts is characterized by watery eyes and discharge. Although not dangerous, this condition can increase infection and recurrent red eye complaints if not treated.
Handling of blocked tear ducts in infants can be done independently at home, by compressing both corners of the eye using warm water. After that, do a gentle massage on both sides of the bridge of the nose, while pressing gently downwards, towards the nostrils. You can repeat this method 5-10 times a day to help clean the remaining tears. Don't forget to always wash your hands before and after touching your baby's eyes.
Cockeye
Crossed eyes or strabismus is a condition in which the eyeballs are not aligned. In infants aged 0-6 months, crossed eyes are normal. This condition is often called pseudotropia (false crossed eyes).
Pseudotropia can occur because the folds at the corners of the baby's eyes or nose bones are still not fully developed, so that when looking at an object, the baby's eye movements look out of alignment and give the impression of a squint.
This condition will improve by itself along with the age of the baby, so there is no need for any treatment.
However, if the squint persists, the baby may have problems with the eye movement muscles, which are generally caused by heredity or genetics.
Crossed eyes in infants caused by disorders of the eye movement muscles can be treated with special therapy or with surgery. Surgery is the last step if other methods don't work, and are usually only done after the child is 6 years old.
Although it often occurs, eye pain in babies should not be underestimated. There are various treatment options that can be done to overcome it, depending on the cause. Therefore, keep checking with the doctor if you find any complaints in your little one's eyes, so that they can be treated appropriately.