A variety of eye issues affect many children and newborn babies. The sooner these issues are identified and treated, the better. Pediatric ophthalmology is concerned with children’s eye issues and their treatment.
Pediatric ophthalmology aids in the early detection of vision-related issues in children. If not corrected within six months of birth, eye abnormalities can leave a child sight handicapped for life. The reason for this is that the optic nerve is still developing during the first six months of life, and if eye problems are not treated during this time, irreparable damage may result.
Similarly, young children might have a variety of vision impairments without even realising it. This is why it is critical to include pediatric ophthalmology in the curriculum.
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What happens during your child’s eye examination?
Your youngster will begin with a series of eye exams to determine their eye health. Your child’s exam will most likely last many hours. The tests are usually performed by two or three of our doctors. In the first round of tests, we will discover:
- How effectively your youngster notices nearby and distant objects. If your child is unable to read, we can assess his or her eyesight using screenings that may contain pictures or shapes.
- Depth perception in your youngster.
- How well your child’s eyes align and how well they move together to track objects (done by an orthoptist).
- Your child’s peripheral vision, also known as side vision.
- We may: in the second portion of the exam:
- Put eye drops in your child’s eyes to dilate or expand the pupils.
- After around 30 minutes, an ophthalmologist will examine the interior of the eyes through the expanded pupils to check if there are any issues and to help establish whether your child requires corrective lenses.
- Examine your child’s eyes using special lights and lenses to see if he or she needs glasses and to rule out any issues.
What Is the Role of a Pediatric Ophthalmologist?
Optometrists and ophthalmologists can both check children’s eyes, test their vision, and, if necessary, prescribe glasses or contacts. Optometrists are not medical doctors, yet they can prescribe medication for some eye ailments. Ophthalmologists are trained to diagnose and treat all eye illnesses and problems.
Young toddlers are frequently unable to adequately describe their symptoms or respond to medical concerns. Pediatric ophthalmologists who are skilled at providing care to children in a way that makes them feel at ease and agreeable. They use eye tests that are specifically developed for the child’s developmental stage, as well as child-sized equipment.
Instruction & Training
To become an ophthalmologist, pediatric ophthalmologists must first complete medical school and then extra training in eye problems. They then receive additional training in identifying and treating pediatric eye problems. The education process lasts 13 years and is as follows:
- Bachelor of Science
- University of Medicine (four years)
- Internship for one year
- Ophthalmology residency (three years)
- Pediatric ophthalmology fellowship (at least one year)
- Reasons to Consult with a Pediatric Ophthalmologist
During routine checks, your child’s paediatrician or family doctor will examine their vision. They may recommend you to a pediatric ophthalmologist if they or you identify an issue with your child’s eyes. The following symptoms indicate that a youngster may have an eye problem:
- Light sensitivity
- Crossed or straying eyes
- Redness or wet eyes, persistent pus or crust
- They frequently massage their eyes
- Squinting
- They are tilting their heads to view
- A full eye checkup is recommended by doctors for
- Prematurely born children
- Those born with a condition that increases their chances of having eye issues, such as Down syndrome
- Children who have a learning problem or who have a developmental delay
- Those who have a family history of childhood vision problems.
Let’s nip it in the bud with pediatric ophthalmology!
Comprehensive eye exams should be a regular component of your child’s healthcare regimen. While abnormalities such as squinting or drooping eyelids are immediately detectable, parents may face difficulties in identifying disorders such as lazy eye and refractive defects. Especially since most children do not mention the problem to their parents since they frequently lack the ability to realise that their visual skills have changed. It is thus the primary responsibility of parents to observe any changes in their children’s behavioural patterns, such as watching TV from a close distance, straining excessively to read from a book, or suddenly performing poorly in school.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist to discuss your child’s eye health.
Pediatric Ophthalmology – Preserving our children’s vision for the future
Pediatric Ophthalmology is treated seriously at Bharti Eye Foundation, with professional specialists and surgeons working around the clock to ensure that our future generation’s vision is adequately safeguarded. Children who squint or have sluggish eyes are initially addressed by prescription glasses and recommending eye exercises. Dr. S Bharti was, in fact, one of the first hospitals to use eye yoga as a therapy strategy. Parents of children born out of wedlock between relatives or with both parents wearing glasses due to refractive defects are recommended to bring their children for an evaluation as soon as possible.
Clinical knowledge
Pediatric ophthalmologists specialise in the development of the visual system and the illnesses that interfere with visual development in children. It is also knowledgeable about the many eye illnesses that afflict youngsters. Pediatric ophthalmologists are trained to undertake sophisticated eye surgery and to treat children’s vision disorders with glasses and drugs. Due to the specific needs of children, many ophthalmologists and other physicians send young patients to a pediatric ophthalmologist for examination and care of ocular diseases. Those with head rotations, head tilts, squinting of the eyes, or favoured head postures (torticollis) are often sent to a pediatric ophthalmologist for evaluation, in addition to children with evident visual impairments. Adults with eye movement problems (such as nystagmus) are often seen by pediatric ophthalmologists.
What type of education do pediatric ophthalmologists have?
- Pediatric ophthalmologists are medical specialists who specialise in children’s eyes.
- A minimum of four years of medical school
- Internship in medicine or surgery for one year
- At least three additional years of ophthalmology residency training
- At least one additional year of pediatric ophthalmology fellowship training
PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGISTS PROVIDE THE BEST CHILDCARE.
Bharti Eye Foundation’s Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus programme provides diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of eye disorders and vision difficulties in children and adolescents, as well as adults with Strabismus.
Children are not merely miniature adults. They can’t always express what’s bothering them. They are not always able to answer medical inquiries and to be patient and cooperative during a medical checkup.
Pediatric ophthalmologists understand how to assess and treat youngsters in a relaxed and cooperative manner. Furthermore, pediatric ophthalmologists use equipment that is specifically intended for youngsters. The majority of pediatric ophthalmologists’ offices are designed with children in mind. This includes waiting rooms and examination rooms, which may feature toys, films, and reading materials for children. This helps to establish a safe and comfortable atmosphere for your youngster.
If your paediatrician recommends that your child get his eyes tested, a pediatric ophthalmologist has the most thorough and comprehensive training, as well as the most competence in working with children and treating children’s eye issues.
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