Silent Eye Diseases in Childhood: What They Are and Why Screening Is Essential

Many eye diseases that appear in childhood show no clear symptoms during the first months of life. Because they are silent, they are often identified only after they have already caused significant impacts on the child’s visual development. This is why eye screening from birth is crucial to ensure that any condition is detected early and treated in time.

Main eye diseases in newborns

Some of the most concerning conditions include:

• Congenital cataract: occurs when the eye’s lens is opaque from birth, preventing proper light entry. Without early treatment, it can lead to irreversible blindness.

• Congenital glaucoma: characterized by increased intraocular pressure, which can cause pain, light sensitivity, and enlargement of the eyeball. If not diagnosed early, it damages the optic nerve.

• Retinoblastoma: a rare but serious tumor that affects the retina. The most common sign is a white reflex in the pupil seen in flash photos. The earlier it is identified, the greater the chances of cure and vision preservation.

• Severe refractive errors: such as high myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, which can hinder binocular vision development and lead to strabismus or amblyopia (“lazy eye”).

  
  

Impacts on the child’s life

When left untreated, these conditions can affect not only vision but also the child’s motor, cognitive, and social development. Vision is directly linked to how babies learn, recognize people, explore their environment, and acquire new skills. Ensuring early diagnosis also means protecting the child’s overall growth and future potential.

Warning signs for parents

Although many diseases are silent, some warning signs may be noticed:

• Pupils with abnormal reflexes (white or opaque).

• Eyes that water excessively or show extreme sensitivity to light.

• Constant strabismus beyond the first few months of life.

• Lack of visual response to faces, toys, or nearby movement.

  
  

The importance of eye screening from birth

Early diagnosis is key to preventing permanent damage. For this reason, it is recommended that every newborn undergo eye examinations within the first days of life.

Advanced Newborn Eye Screening: essential care

Advanced Newborn Eye Screening is an advanced form of ocular screening that can detect conditions invisible to traditional exams. It provides a detailed evaluation of internal eye structures, such as the retina and optic nerve, greatly increasing the chances of identifying serious diseases in their earliest stages.

In summary: childhood eye diseases may be silent, but they should never be overlooked. Parental attention, combined with eye exams from birth — especially Advanced Newborn Eye Screening — is the best way to ensure a healthy childhood full of visual discoveries. Pr3vent is committed to making this care accessible so every child can grow up seeing the world clearly.