Experts recommend children undergo eye exam after head trauma

July 26, 2010

Children under the age of five who have suffered a type of head trauma should undergo an ophthalmologic exam to discern if any further injuries may be detected, MedPageToday.com reports.

Experts recommend the exam be conducted within the first 24 hours of the injury. Retinal hemorrhages have been known to indicate any type of trauma or abuse the child may have been exposed to, but they are often misdiagnosed by physicians if they are not looking for the signs specifically.

The eye exam is not used to diagnose a brain injury, but is vital in helping establish if further exams are needed.

"Information gained in such an evaluation might lead to identifying an etiology and, in the case of a surviving child, prevent death by preventing further abuse or recognizing other disease," the American Academy of Pediatrics wrote in the study.

The American Optometric Associaiton (AOA) recommends children have a thorough eye exam performed by age three. Eye health is vital to a child's performance in school as they develop, and catching visions problems early is beneficial to the child in the long run.