Pediatric & Ocular Genetics

Children can be afflicted by many eye diseases. They may be born with or may develop cataracts, glaucoma, retinal and orbital tumors, or other problems. More commonly, children may need glasses to see more clearly or intervention for misaligned eyes (strabismus) or poor visual development in one eye (amblyopia). The management of eye problems in children requires special knowledge and skills.

Even before a child can speak, pediatric ophthalmologists can tell what a child sees, if he or she needs eyeglasses or contact lenses, and if any problems exist with the eyes. Children are not miniature adults, and their eye problems require diagnostic and treatment methods that are usually different from those used in the older age group. Fortunately, most eye problems can be treated without surgery, but a lot of children undergo surgery for their eye problems at this hospital.