Paedriatics Flashcards
Normative VA values for children under 4 years of age are:
- Uniocular acuities of 0.100 LogMAR (6/7.5 Snellen) or better with an intraocular difference of no more than 0.050 LogMAR (two pictures).
Normative VA values for children aged 4 and five years are:
- Uniocular acuities of 0.050 LogMAR ( 6/6-2 Snellen) or better, with an intraocular difference of no more than 0.025 LogMAR (one picture).
- Generally in Scotland if either eye is 0.200 or less then referral should be considered
- An intraocular difference of 0.100 may be indicative of mild amblyopia, an intraocular difference of 0.200 should warrant referral
responsibilities of the optom in paeds patients
- Cycloplegic refraction – with the appropriate cycloplegic agent
- Ocular examination – using an appropriate technique
- Other tests you deem appropriate
- If patient is discharged from HES they ARE NOT under the care of HES anymore and duty of care lies with you
- You need a full GOS test and are your clinical responsibility
when do we refer for strabismus paeds
– If under age 8 and you detect a strabismus which is not fully accommodative and has not been seen at ophthalmology then to ophthalmology
– If patient over age 8 or has been discharged from HES you may manage in the community
– Refer if amblyopia suspected and within visual plasticity period
– e.g. a decrease of 0.2 LogMar compared to age matched normal, or an interocular difference of 0.2
– e.g. over age 4-5 refer if VA worse than 0.2 LogMar either eye
when do we refer for nystagmus paeds - and how
– Nystagmus which has not previously been investigated refer to ophthalmology to ensure no pathological cause
– Oscillopia (suggests nystagmus recent onset) consider urgent referral, absence of oscillopia routine referral
when is a cyclo refraction required
– First visit to your practice
– All children under age 8
– Under age 8 with significant refractive error (may be done every year)
– Suspicion of latent hyperopia at any age (eye strain common symptom for even people in 20s)
– Reduced VA
– All children with evidence of strabismus – even if VA appears normal
When is a cyclo not required
– Children age 6-8 who have had a cycloplegic refraction in the past and are cooperative i.e. can answer questions during subjective refraction well
– Older children
– Myopia over age 8 (since cannot hide underlying myopia)
what % of cyclo to use for different ages and for what irises
– Cyclopentalate 0.5% for under age 1
– Cyclopentalate 1% for age 1-8
– 0.5% can be used in older children age 12/13…. If light irises
– If poor VA, patient has very dark irides and insufficent cycloplegia with 1% (after another drop put in) then refer to HES for atropine refraction
– No published evidence that 2x1% cyclopentalate leads to more effective cycloplegia than 1%
contraindications of cyclo
– Children with Down’s syndrome – high proportion of heart defects (safer done in HES if complications)
– Children with congenital heart problems
when to prescribe rx in paeds
- VA reduced
- Significant Refractive error (prescribe full rx)
- Strabismus and significant refractive error present
- Amblyopia and significant refractive error
- If you find significant refractive error and you need to refer for strabismus and or amblyopia prescribe full plus Rx prior to referral to improve the visual outcome
Normal levels of hyperopia in infants
– 3 months = +2.16 ± 1.30 D (mean ± sd)
– 1 year = +1.46 ± 1.01D (mean ± sd)
Be very cautious about prescribing spectacles below age 1 as emmetropisation is taking place
– The kinds of prescriptions for infants which should be prescribed for are:
- highly hyperopic infants e.g. +8.00 to +10.00,
- infants with infantile esotropia and a hyperopic Rx
- highly myopic infants -5.00 plus (under correct by 2D as emmetropisation can occur in myopes)
when to prescribe for Age 2-5? myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism
– Prescribe for hyperopia ≥ +3.50DS if assymptomatic
– Prescribe for myopia >-2.00DS (reduce by 0.50-1.00D until school age) – don’t want to prescribe full myopic prescription in very young children – minimize growth in eyes
– Prescribe for astigmatism ≥ 1.50DC
when to prescribe for Age 5 plus myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism
– Hyperopia > +1.50DS
– Myopia > -0.50DS prescribe full correction if improves VA
– Prescribe for astigmatism ≥ 0.75DC
when to prescribe when there is anisometropia
– ≥1.00D if aged 1-8 and anisometropia is persistent after 4-6 months
Most common childhood anterior eye conditions
- Allergic eye conditions – might be first presentation
- Conjunctivitis – very common in kids under 5
- Chalazion/ hordeolum – very common and can last months
- Cataract – less common, major visual consequences
3 most common conjunctivitis in paeds
- Vernal conjunctivitis (less common in UK) – black ethnicity more common, more common in boys, atopic conditions, asthma, larger cobblestone papillae, ptosis may be seen since lids are swollen, stringy discharge, trantas dots – inflam infiltrates around the edge of the cornea (very symmetrical and round)
- Acute allergic conjunctivitis – slightly different than in adults, unilateral, sudden response, oedema is the key features, and usually very swollen, indirect response to an allergn. No papillae, no corneal involvement
- Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (most common) – might have not presented before, small papillae, watery discharge, rhinitis, lid chemosis, bilateral,
VKC management
- In a child it is a on going issue so steroids for a long time, worries about cataract development and IOP changes so referred to HES
- corneal involvement needs referral in most cases, can start px with sodium cromoglycate qds and cold compresses
does acute allergic conjunctivits have papillae
no
(also no corneal involvement)
systemic antihistmaines for children (and age restrictions)
– loratidine/claritin licensed from age 2
– piriton/chlorphenamine licensed from age 6
– Sodium cromoglicate - no minimum age for generic (POM), but minimum age 6 for opticrom (P)!
(Piriton is drowsy systemic antihistamine)
Try to give non drowsy meds first