WHAT TYPES OF EXAMINATIONS DO PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGISTS PERFORM?

Vision assessment: Particular skills are needed to test a child’s eyesight, especially in the pre-school child. Different methods are used for different ages.

Determination of refractive error (the need for and strength of glasses): This testing is performed after dilation in most pediatric patients to ascertain an objective measurement.

Motility examinations: Quantitative measurements of ocular misalignment are necessary for planning medical and surgical management of strabismus.

Biomicroscopy and dilated fundus examinations: These are necessary to investigate for the presence of eye disease associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, genetic abnormalities, neurologic pathology (increased intracranial pressure), as well as specific ocular conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Examination under anesthesia (EUA): This may be necessary to diagnose and/or treat conditions in patients who will not allow adequate examination/treatment in the office.

Pediatric ophthalmologists will monitor diseases over time and determine if the treatment is working properly, and make appropriate modifications if it is not.

WHAT KINDS OF TREATMENTS DO PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGISTS PROVIDE?

Medical treatments:

• Prescriptions for glasses and/or contact lenses.
• Amblyopia (“lazy eye”) therapy including glasses, patching and pharmacologic treatment.
• Topical and or/systemic therapy for eye infections, chalazia, glaucoma, blocked tear ducts, and inflammation on the eye or in the eye. Medicines include antibiotics, antivirals and steroids.

Surgical Procedures:

• Probe and irrigation for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear duct).
• Excision of chalazia.
• Eye muscle surgery for strabismus.
• Pediatric cataract extraction including use of intraocular lenses (IOLs).