In many cases, eye problems are the result of an abnormal curvature in the eye. For example, children with myopia have eyes that are longer than normal from front to back. This causes light to focus in front of the retina rather than on it. Meanwhile, children with hyperopia have eyes that are shorter than normal from front to back. This causes light to focus behind the retina. Astigmatism is the result of an uneven curvature of the cornea at the front of the eye.

In some cases, a child’s eye problem stems from an injury. Injuries during sporting activities are the leading cause of eye injuries in children, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye injuries are most common in baseball, basketball and racquet sports. The academy recommends eye protection be used for all of the following sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Football
• Hockey (all forms, including ice, roller, street and field)
• Lacrosse
• Paintball
• Racquet sports
• Soccer
• Wrestling

An injury also may occur when sand, dirt or other foreign bodies come into contact with the eye’s surface. In some cases, a foreign object may actually penetrate the globe of the eye. Exposure to chemicals (including those found in common household items such as cleaners, detergents, paints and glues) and blunt-force injury also can injure the eye.

A scratched cornea is one of the most common injuries in older children. It typically occurs as a result of wearing contact lenses or playing sports. Children who have this injury may feel like there is something in their eye when nothing is really there. The eye typically becomes red, tears excessively and is extremely sensitive to light.

Contrary to popular belief, a child’s eyes cannot be damaged from watching too much television (or sitting to close to the TV), looking at a computer screen or reading in low light. While these conditions may cause a child’s eyes to become fatigued, no long-term harm occurs.

Other sources of injury include:

• Misuse of toys
• Falls from beds, furniture and stairs
• Damage inflicted by misuse of everyday tools and objects
• Car accidents
• Fireworks mishaps

Allergies also can cause eye problems in children. Allergies affect the eyes because the mucous membrane covering the front of the eye and the inner eyelid (conjunctiva) contains an estimated 50 million mast cells. These are the cells that release histamine and other chemicals that trigger symptoms of an allergic reaction. Both indoor (e.g., pet dander, dust mites) and outdoor allergens (e.g., pollen, mold) can cause eye-related conditions.