During pediatric postings, every day is a new day. We learn and adopt to the conditions around us.
One such day, a five year old boy came to the clinic, with complaint of continuous poking of the eye given by the attender.
This repetitive behavior where the child press, poke or rub their eyes with their fingers or knuckles.
It is a classical sign often seen with children with severe visual impairment conditions. Ex: Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).
The same signs are visible in conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity, congenital rubella, Norrie’s disease and other unilateral visual impairement.
This sign is noted in young kids with severe visual impairement.
Individuals perform this action to mechanically stimulate the dysfunctional retinal cells to produce flashes of light known as phosphenes. Secondary cause is developmental disorder.
PHYSICAL COMPLICATION:
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Corneal abrasion
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Corneal ectasia
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Enophthalmos
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Infection
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Induced astigmatism
MANAGEMENT:
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Protective eyeglasses
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Monitoring of the condition.
Concluding, Ocular auto stimulation might be difficult to control with physical restraints or negative reinforcement. It oftens tends to decrease with advancing age and may be controlled by engaging in play activities that keeps the hands occupied.
List out some other conditions closely related to this?
MBH/PS