Ophthalmology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arif Ülkü Yener stated that visual impairments in children who come to the examination are detected by teachers or mobile health teams and said, “In some families, sensitive, careful parents can also notice this. For example, the child sits close to the television and squints. Such things indicate that there is a refractive error in the eye. The most important thing is to pay attention to hyperopia. While laziness cannot occur in myopes, it can occur in hypermetropes. Especially if there is a difference between the two eyes, if one eye is zero while the other is 2 or 3 degrees, laziness can definitely develop in the eye with the higher number. There is no treatment after the age of 12. Therefore, great attention should be paid. Early intervention is important for public health and professional success.”

Provided that hygiene is very careful, especially contact lenses are recommended

Stating that the use of glasses should be preferred after the diagnosis of visual impairments, Yener said, “There are microbial conditions that we see from time to time in contact lenses. It may even lead to loss of the eye. For this reason, we do not recommend contact lenses for children under the age of 10, but contact lenses can be used in a certain age range when people’s consciousness develops. This is usually after the ages of 12 and 13 or before the 40s and 50s. We do not recommend contact lenses for very old people, children under the age of 10, and people who cannot do their own personal care. We especially recommend contact lenses in high myopes, hypermyopes and in different

March 2024