Kelantan: An eye screening campaign by Universiti Sains Malaysia Specialist Hospital (HPUSM) has detected more than 300 primary school children in Kelantan with eye problems, including strabismus (squint) and amblyopia (lazy eye), over the past three years.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, HPUSM Ophthalmologist Dr Ng Kwang Sheng said the findings serve as a wake-up call, highlighting the importance of routine eye examinations to detect and treat vision problems early before they interfere with a child's visual development and learning. He explained that strabismus comes in several forms, including esotropia (inward turning of the eyeball), exotropia (outward turning), hypertropia (upward) and hypotropia (downward), which typically stem from genetic factors, refractive errors or nerve damage.
Dr Ng stressed that early intervention is vital, particularly for children with squints, since the connection between the eyes and brain is still forming during the early years. "Treatment as early as age five is crucial to ensure proper development of the nerve connections between the eyes and the brain, as well as to prevent amblyopia (lazy eye) and ensure normal binocular vision develops," he told Bernama recently.
Dr Ng said HPUSM had previously performed surgery on a child with a squint eye, aged just 18 months, successfully restoring the toddler's normal vision. However, he noted that treatment depends on the type and severity of the strabismus, as some patients may require a second surgery when the eye grows larger, causing the squint to recur.
He said treatment for squint eyes varies based on the underlying cause and the patient's age, and may include prescription glasses, vision therapy or injections, while surgery to adjust the eye muscles is recommended if these methods prove ineffective. The success rate for squint eye surgery in Malaysia is high, ranging between 85 and 90 per cent, helping patients not only improve their vision but also boost their self-confidence, he added.
"Squint eye problems often cause patients, especially children, to feel embarrassed or have low self-esteem, but modern treatment can restore their visual function, appearance and psychosocial well-being," he elaborated. In light of this, Dr Ng advised parents to remain vigilant about their children's eye health and to seek early examination if they notice any signs of squinting, difficulty focusing or other symptoms of vision problems.
He also advised parents that children under two years old should not be exposed to gadgets at all, while those aged two to five should be limited to no more than an hour of screen time daily, and older children should be strictly monitored. Dr Ng added that HPUSM is among the specialist hospitals offering squint eye surgery at an affordable cost of under RM1,000, making it accessible to patients nationwide.