Paediatric Eye Problems & Paediatric Ophthalmologists

Posted by Parth Shah on January 18th, 2021

Who are Paediatric Ophthalmologists?

A Paediatric Opthalmologist is a qualified ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) specialising in children’s eye care. Not all ophthalmologists are comfortable in dealing with children’s eye issues.

Paediatric ophthalmologists can assess and treat most eye problems in children. They perform the following assessment concerning children’s eye care:

  1. Vision Assessment – to check a child’s visual acuity, at any age from birth, infants and older children. This includes assessing vision in children who are delayed and non-verbal.
  2. Determining refractive error – to check the child’s focusing ability and accurately prescribe glasses if necessary. This can be for a child of any age.
  3. Motility Examination – to check the eye alignment and eye movements in order to diagnose and manage strabismus (squint).
  4. Bio microscopy and dilated fundus examination – to check the front and back of the eye to assess for problems such as cataract, retina or optic nerve disease and genetic abnormalities.

An experienced paediatric ophthalmologist also performs surgical procedures to treat problems such as blocked tear ducts, paediatric cataract extraction, and eye muscle surgery for strabismus.

Signs and Symptoms That May Indicate An Eye Problem in A Child

  1. Itching or dryness causing frequent eye rubbing or blinking
  2. Tilting head to one side
  3. Holding objects close to the eyes
  4. Squinting
  5. Difficulty reading
  6. Frequent headaches
  7. Extreme sensitivity to light
  8. Excessive tearing
  9. Noticeable eye turn (strabismus)

Diagnosis of Paediatric Eye Problems

A paediatric opthalmologist perform a thorough examination of your children’s eyes to diagnose and treat specific paediatric eye problems. They can also discuss with you the signs and symptoms to watch out for.

Treatment of Paediatric Eye Problems

The treatment for paediatric eye problems depends on the cause or underlying condition. Usually, the first line of therapy includes conventional or non-surgical treatments. Eye surgery by an experienced paediatric ophthalmologist such as Dr Parth Shah may also be recommended.

 

Prevention of Paediatric Eye Problems

Along with the children’s overall development, there are also milestones for children’s visual development:

  1. A baby’s two eyes should work together while focusing on an object from about three months old.
  2. A baby’s depth perception develops from about six months.
  3. A child should approach and grip an object with their thumb and forefinger by twelve months.

Marking these and some other developmental milestones can benefit parents if their child may have a underlying vision problem. It is also important to note that many children with vision problems may not display any obvious eye abnormality and may not complain of having a difficulty with their vision.

Children should be taught to take care of their eyes, including avoid eye rubbing and wearing appropriate eye protection for activities such as contact sports. Adult supervision is also a necessity in these situations.

Some preventive measures are:

  1. Preventing exposure to excessive UV light
  2. Avoiding extreme close-up work
  3. Controlling myopia early

Conclusion

Understanding the necessity of the early diagnosis and treatment of paediatric eye disease is essential to protect your child’s vision. Dr Parth Shah, an experienced paediatric ophthalmologist in Sydney, has specialised expertise in managing common and complex paediatric eye problems using an evidence-based approach.

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Parth Shah

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Parth Shah
Joined: August 27th, 2020
Articles Posted: 5

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