Common eye issues and when to seek medical care

Eye issues in kids are common. As a parent, it's natural to worry whether an issue will clear up on its own or could affect your child's vision long-term. That worry can feel even bigger when your child is too young to explain what's wrong or how it feels.

Jessica Thayer, M.D., Pediatric Ophthalmologist at Children's Health℠ and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern shares insights about common eye injuries in kids and tips for preventing them.

Common eye issues in kids

Some common eye conditions in children include:

• Conjunctivitis (pink eye): Redness, swelling and discharge in the eye caused by bacteria, viruses or allergies.

• Stye: A bump on the eyelid caused by blocked oil glands.

• Blocked tear duct: When channels that drain tears get clogged, causing watery, crusty eyes.

• Eye irritation or eye-related allergy symptoms: Itchy, watery and puffy eyes caused by pollen, dust or pet dander.

These issues do not usually require urgent medical attention. If symptoms last more than a few days or get better but then come back, talk to your pediatrician.

“If my kids have irritated eyes or feel like something might be in their eye, the first thing I try is over-the-counter eye drops,” Dr. Thayer says. “They’re marketed for adults but are perfectly safe for kids and can help with minor eye irritation.”

When to see a doctor about your child’s eye symptoms

If you notice the following symptoms in your child, make an appointment with an eye doctor:

• Eyes that don't line up (strabismus). Strabismus happens when one eye focuses and the other turns inward, outward, up or down. Getting treatment for this condition can help improve a child’s vision and prevent amblyopia (lazy eye), which can lead to vision loss.

• A white spot in the pupil or iris. Call your pediatrician or eye doctor if you see this (which may be more noticeable in photos).

• Red eyes that aren’t getting better. Redness from irritation or allergies often improves after a day or two. If it lasts for more than three days, contact your child’s eye doctor.

• Pink eye. See an eye doctor if pink eye lasts for more than a week, doesn’t improve with prescribed treatment or keeps coming back.

Squinting, head tilting and sensitivity to light are also signs your child should see an eye doctor.

Eye injuries in kids that require prompt medical attention

Urgent care for eye issues

Urgent care may be able to help when children:

• Have something in their eye, such as sand or dirt, that doesn't come out with rinsing.

• Feel like something is stuck in their eye, even when you can’t see it. Minor irritation or a scratch can sometimes create the sensation that something is in the eye. If the feeling doesn't improve with rinsing or eye drops, urgent care can help determine what's causing it.

Emergency care for eye issues in kids:

Take your child to an emergency department that offers ophthalmology for:

• An injury involving a sharp object. Sticks, pencils, scissors and other sharp objects can cause damage that you can’t always see from the outside.

• Sudden, significant eyelid swelling. Swelling that comes on quickly and doesn't look like a typical allergic reaction can sometimes signal an infection, including a sinus infection that has spread to the eye area.

• An eye that appears to be bulging. A bulging or protruding eye can be a sign of swelling or infection behind the eye.

• An object sticking out of or embedded in the eye. Don't try to remove any objects yourself. Doing so could cause further damage.

• Significant eye trauma. A hard hit from a ball, toy or other object may need medical attention, particularly if your child has severe pain, changes in vision or an eye that looks different afterward.

Chemical exposures also need prompt care. If laundry detergent, household cleaner or another chemical gets into your child's eye, start flushing it with clean water immediately and make sure to:

• Flush for at least 15 minutes

• Use bottled water if possible

• Check the expiration date of any eye wash products. Saline eye wash can be most comfortable for kids and can be kept in a first aid kit. Do not use expired solution.

If your child can't tolerate rinsing at home, bring them to any emergency department. The sooner you start rinsing your child’s eye, the better.

Preventing eye issues and injuries in kids

Accidents happen, but a few precautions can reduce the risk of eye injuries:

• Encourage your child not to rub their eyes. Rubbing their eyes can introduce germs or substances into the eyes, spread infection and contribute to other eye problems.

• Avoid playing with sticks. This type of play can easily end up causing injury.

• Teach children to use sharp pencils or scissors only when they are sitting down. Walking and running around with any type of pencil, especially with the point facing upward, can lead to eye injury.

• Keep children away from fireworks.

• Keep laundry products and household cleaners out of reach.

“It’s very common for kids to get into cleaning products and accidentally spray a sibling in the face or pop laundry pods and the detergent sprays everywhere,” Dr. Thayer says. “Keep these products in a high or locked cabinet.”

Learn more

Children’s Health offers expert ophthalmology care for kids of all ages. Learn more about our services and find care.

If your child is having an eye emergency, Children’s Health offers the highest level of care, including ophthalmology at our Dallas and Plano Emergency Departments. Our team has deep experience caring for children and does everything we can to make eye care as easy as possible for kids. Find pediatric emergency care near you.