Pediatric Ophthalmology

Programs and Services

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Children have special eye care needs. Not only are they prone to certain vision disorders, they also react differently to certain treatments. Plus, communicating with kids about their eyesight takes special understanding. The Eye Institute has two pediatric ophthalmologists with expertise in all these areas. Our young patients also have access to our full range of specialists and subspecialists.

Eye movement disorders like strabismus (misalignment of the eyes) are common in children. The Eye Institute’s pediatric staff includes a certified orthoptist who provides precise strabismus evaluation and oversees therapy to prevent amblyopia, or poor vision development in one eye. (Adult patients with strabismus are also treated by the pediatric team.) The Eye Institute also has the resources to treat eyelid and tear duct conditions, which are fairly common among children and can interfere with normal eyesight development.

Children can suffer from just about all the eye problems that adults do, even conditions we usually associate with middle and old age like cataracts and glaucoma. The Center for Pediatric Cataracts and Glaucoma, a referral service of the Eye Institute and the Eye Clinic of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, takes a multi-disciplinary approach to helping children with these diseases. Staff physicians have national reputations and are skilled in the most up-to-date surgical techniques. In fact, the Center has conducted pioneering research on lens implants for children and has been using this technique for more than 10 years.

The Eye Institute recommends that all children receive a comprehensive eye exam before age two. After that, they should be examined every year until their late teens. One note: Most optometrist exams for corrective eyeglasses do not include a full ophthalmic examination. To fully check for eye diseases and early signs of eye disorders, make sure your child gets a comprehensive eye exam from an ophthalmologist.

Date: Sept. 14, 2004

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