Pediatrics
A Pediatric Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has taken all the training of a regular ophthalmologist, but has in addition spent one to two years studying children’s eye conditions and diseases. Most importantly, pediatric ophthalmologists are trained in the brains vision development. Long before your child has developed language skills, a pediatric ophthalmologist can tell what your child is able to see. In addition, a pediatric ophthalmologist is trained in different methods of examination which make children feel more relaxed and at ease during the exam process.
Your pediatrician usually checks your child’s eyes during his or her first year of life. Should your pediatrician or family doctor detect an eye problem, they may refer your child to a pediatric ophthalmologist for a more detailed assessment.
Many problems with children’s eyes have the best results when treated early in a patient’s life. If your child is having a problem which may be related to their eyes, an exam of the child’s eyes is extremely important. School eye screenings may also detect a problem, which require further evaluation.
The following is a list of some signs and symptoms of pediatric eye problems:
- Any difference in size, shape or color of any part of the eye or eyelids
- Eyes that wander, shake or vibrate
- Eyes that do not appear to look in the same direction
- Child not looking at mother by three months of age
- Redness of the eye
- Discharge from the eyes
- Droopy eyelids
- Pain in or around the eye
- Eyes that turn in toward the nose or out toward the ear
- Eyes tearing or wet-looking, when not crying
- Any swelling or lump in or around the eye
- Child covers one eye to look at things
- Squints or squeezes eyes nearly closed to see
- Child tilts or turns head when looking intently