The pediatric ophthalmologists at Henry Ford specialize in the
diagnosis and treatment of all pediatric eye conditions. Children of all ages
can be examined by the pediatric ophthalmologist. Even small infants can be
examined if problems are suspected.
Most serious eye conditions are identified in the preschool years.
The earlier these conditions are caught, the better the
outcome is likely to be during treatment.
Pediatric ophthalmologists diagnose and treat many eye
conditions in children. One common condition is strabismus -- a misalignment of the eyes. The eyes can be misaligned in any direction. The direction in which the eye drifts determines the specific term used to describe the strabismus.
For instance, if a child has eyes that turn in or 'cross,' they have an esotropia. For eyes that drift apart, they have an exotropia . Strabismus usually is treated with a combination of patching, glasses and surgery. A full eye exam with a pediatric ophthalmologist is necessary to establish a treatment plan, which is then tailored to the needs of the child.
Another common condition, amblyopia , is a loss of vision from lack of use in an otherwise normal eye. Amblyopia develops in eyes with strabismus, eyes that are out of focus compared to the other eye and eyes with problems like cataracts or corneal opacities (cloudiness).
Pediatric ophthalmologists also examine premature infants for retinopathy of prematurity. This is a potentially blinding disease seen in premature low birth weight babies. Examinations are performed in both the neonatal intensive care unit and the ophthalmologist's office after discharge.
Pediatric ophthalmologists also treat children with congenital and developmental cataracts, congenital glaucoma, nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear ducts), as well as many other eye conditions that occur in childhood.
Because pediatric ophthalmologists are so experienced in the treatment of childhood strabismus, they will sometimes see adult patients with problems related to adult strabismus . These patients may be experiencing double vision or may just desire a better alignment of their eyes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of
Ophthalmology recommend a method of vision screening to determine if the
child needs a full eye examination. Vision screening is performed by the child's
primary care physician and specially-trained screeners in schools. Screenings
should be done during certain ages. If a child fails a screening at any time, he
or she should have a complete eye exam.
Children's eyes should be screened at:
Birth, while still in the newborn nursery, as part of their neonatal
physical examination.
At age six months, during their routine evaluation in the pediatrician's
office.
At age 3 ½, in the pediatrician's office. This screening typically
will include assessing visual acuity on a picture type eye chart.
At age 5, either in the pediatrician's office or at school.
Further screenings are performed at routine medical check-ups, school
checks or after the appearance of symptoms.
Your child should have a complete eye examination by an eye care specialist at any point in time that they fail their vision-screening exam. Infants should definitely be examined at any time they fail to pass their screening exam, but can also be examined at any point you sense that they may have an eye problem. Problems that require an eye exam are: poor tracking or visual behavior; an
eye that seems to wander, cross, or drift; or an abnormal white pupil. The earlier these conditions are caught, the better the outcome with treatment.
Try to arrive 10 minutes early to fill out the necessary paperwork. Bring
insurance information and any required referral forms. Plan to be in the
ophthalmologist's office for at least one hour. The examination is divided into
two parts. The first part involves taking a medical history and checking visual
acuity, pupillary function and eye muscle function. Eyedrops to dilate the
pupils are then placed in the eyes. The drops take 40 minutes to work. After a
period of waiting, the second part of the examination is completed. This
involves examing the structures of the eyes (cornea, iris, lens, retina, optic
nerve) and determining the refractive state (focus of the eye, or potential need
for glasses) of the eyes.
After the examination, the pediatric ophthalmologist will discuss the
findings and outline a treatment plan if needed. Time will be allotted to
answer questions and a follow-up examination will be scheduled if
needed.
All children including small infants can be examined. The examination is
tailored to the age of the child. Older children are asked to read an eye chart
comprised of pictures or letters. Infants and very young children can not be
expected to read an eye chart, but at the end of the exam, the pediatric
ophthalmologist can tell whether vision and visual behavior are developing
appropriately.
An eye exam with a Henry Ford pediatric ophthalmologist will give you the peace of mind to know your child's eyes are developing at their full potential.
