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Keep an Eye on the Eyes

Common Eye Problems in Babies and Toddlers

By Katherine Bontrager

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But you're not out of the woods yet: Children can also get infections in the eyelid itself. "This is caused by oil and bacteria buildup in some of the pores of the eyelid," Dr. Weise says. "Sometimes, the treatment for this is simply keeping the eyes very clean. Other times, the treatment is oral antibiotics."

And be especially cautious if you catch your little one eating dirt or sand that may have been frequented by cats or dogs. "Children can also get infections inside the eye caused by dog or cat roundworms and can lead to permanent vision loss," Dr. Weise says. "Children may feel sick and have poor vision in one or both eyes. This type of infection is difficult to treat and damage to the eye is irreversible, so prevention is key – in other words, never allow your children to eat sand or dirt!"

An Ounce of Prevention

With so many potential causes for infection or irritation, you'll want to do all that you can to prevent your little one from coming down with any of the above. But where do you begin?

"The best prevention for conjunctivitis is to avoid exposure to other children with infectious conjunctivitis," Dr. Collins says. "Because viruses cause most pink eyes, treatment with antibiotic drops is not effective in these cases, and children should avoid returning to daycare or school until the eye is no longer red. Meticulous hand washing and not sharing towels with someone with pink eye can help to prevent the spread of the virus."


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