Pediatric ophthalmic mythology.

Headaches in children are virtually never the result of eye problems. If a child needs glasses, young age is almost never a contraindication to their use. Any child in whom strabismus is recognized or suspected should be referred to an ophthalmologist. The strabismus may be a presenting sign of a serious disease. Even if it is not, spontaneous cure almost never occurs. Furthermore, the younger the child, the easier and more successful will be the treatment of both the strabismus and the amblyopia that often accompanies it. Dyslexia is not the result of abnormalities of the eyes and is unaffected by eye exercises. There are no significant ocular hazards in the use of standard mydriatic (dilating) eye drops in children.