To screen a very young child could be the source of worries for parents. But accompanying infants in the screening for disturbances is Dr.Zwilinger and her COP9 team speciality! In this article ” How to screen for a very young child”, find out when your child can start consulting, how our ophthalmologist diagnoses and, more importantly, how to recognise the first signs of ocular disturbances that should worry you!
As of when is it possible to screen a very young child?
Our COP9 center was designed by Dr. Stéphanie Zwilinger to answer an important need: screening very young children.
It is thus possible to bring your baby as early as his or her very first months, should any sign worry you, or under your pediatrician’s advice. Moreover, we invite you to check this video of Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger addressing this subject out
From birth up until 2 to 3 years old, the ophthalmological exam is mostly based on the internal structures of the eye. This visual check-up allows to detect the first signs of visual disturbances, or development disturbances, and to screen for a potential retinoblastoma.
After 3 years old, the visual check-up can be achieved using drawings projection. The child can name them, or show them amongst an ensemble of pictures displayed in front of him or her.
We can only encourage you to often check up on the visual acuity of your infant by accompanying him or her to an ophthalmologist specialized in pediatrics, like Dr. Zwillinger. This is the best way to make sure his or her vision is not impaired. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comment section, at the end of this article.
To screen a very young child: what are the signs?
To diagnose a toddler is not an easy task! Especially without a school setting to observe a learning delay or words to express a sense of unease or visual helplessness. To intervene as soon as possible, an early recognition of said disturbances could be an asset to screen a very young child
The Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger’s COP9 team shows you a useful list on how to identify the first signs of potential visual disturbances:
- a light hypersensitivity;
- an hyperactivity, or any sign of behavior disorder ;
- a difficulty to follow moving objects with the eyes, a delay in the eye tracking;
- an irregularity in the blinking of one or both eyes (too little or too much);
- a difficulty to locate him or herself in space, to catch his or her toys ;
- one or both eyes that stay/goes in or out;
- a tearing or itchy eyes without an allergic origin (first consult your generalist).
We invite you to consult us for an early screening. Our ophthalmologist and her orthoptists team will run the necessary (and painless) ophthalmological exams in order to get a clear and efficient diagnosis for your toddler.
How to screen a very young child?
Our ophthalmologist, Dr.Stéphanie Zwillinger, is trained and specialized in pediatric screening.
Every appointment is adapted and personalized, in order to accompany the very young children in their course of care:
- for a newborn, up until 18 months,the orthoptist or the ophthalmologist will run adapted tests, such as hiding from the child or presenting him or her with board which as stripes on one side and none on the other;
- a cover test is also suitable to screen very young children: a black circle laid on one eye, then the other, to diagnose the eye movement;
- a screening for disturbances, such as daltonism, strabismus, amblyopia or three dimensional vision can also be run.
If needed, an eye care professional can direct you to an orthoptist reeducation, a specialist in psychometric development or a neuropediatrician. COP9, multidisciplinary practise, will facilitate the access to specialists by providing you a psychometricians and orthoptists team.
The COP9 team concludes this article by reminding you how important it is to systematically do screenings in order to ensure the proper development of your very young child. An early intervention can quickly detect anomalies and avoid long term complications or school difficulties. For some children, it also is important to explain the family medical history or genetic disease: it’s an excellent way to screen a very young child!