Paediatric Ophthalmology
Paediatric Ophthalmology, a specialized branch of eye care, focuses on the visual health of children. This crucial subspecialty addresses the unique vision needs of our young ones, as the visual system undergoes significant development during childhood. The importance of paediatric ophthalmology lies in its ability to detect and treat eye disorders in children at an early stage. Childhood is a critical period for visual development, and any issues that may hinder this process need prompt attention. Paediatric eye specialists play a vital role in safeguarding your child’s vision.
These experts employ a comprehensive approach to paediatric eye care, utilizing medications, therapies, and, when necessary, advanced eye surgeries such as squint correction surgery to address a wide range of eye conditions in children. From common refractive errors to more complex issues like strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye), paediatric eye specialists are equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide the best possible care.
But paediatric ophthalmology isn’t just limited to children. These specialists also treat adults with eye movement disorders and conditions like strabismus. Their expertise extends across the age spectrum, ensuring that everyone receives the precise care they need for optimal eye health. At Centre for Sight, our team of dedicated paediatric eye specialists is committed to nurturing young vision and providing comprehensive eye care for all age groups. We understand the importance of early intervention and are here to support your child’s visual
Squint eye treatment, also known as strabismus treatment, is a common eye condition where the eyes do not align properly. One eye may turn inwards, outwards, upwards, or downwards, causing a misalignment that can be noticeable and affect vision. Symptoms of Squint include misaligned eyes, double vision (diplopia), difficulty focusing on objects, eye strain, and discomfort, as well as impaired depth perception. Squint eye surgery may be required to correct the condition.
Causes of Squint can have various underlying causes, including genetic factors, problems with eye muscles or nerves, and refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness. In children, an uncorrected squint can lead to “lazy eye” or amblyopia, where one eye becomes weaker due to disuse.
Diagnostics: To determine the appropriate squint eye treatment, a comprehensive eye examination is essential. This evaluation assesses the eye alignment, visual acuity, and the presence of any underlying eye conditions. It may also include specialized tests to measure how well the eyes work together.
Squint Treatment: The goal of squint treatment is to align the eyes properly, improve vision, and prevent complications like amblyopia. The treatment approach depends on the individual’s age, the severity of the squint, and its underlying cause. Treatment options include eyeglasses, eye exercises, prism lenses, Botox injections, and squint surgery.
At Centre For Sight, our experienced team of ophthalmologists and squint specialists provides comprehensive care for patients of all ages. We diagnose squint accurately and tailor treatment plans to meet individual needs, aiming for optimal visual outcomes and improved quality of life. Don’t let squint affect your vision and self-confidence; seek expert care and correction at Centre For Sight.
Are squint eye exercises helpful in dealing with the condition?
Practising eye exercises, as recommended by the ophthalmologists, may help in aligning eyes in selected cases. There are many vision therapy programs that are customized according to the needs of the patient. Squint eye exercises in a vision treatment plan are advised only after a thorough eye examination.
Squint eye exercises aim to improve the coordination of the eyes and to delay the need for surgery. They can be done at home or as suggested by the expert.
Some of the widely known squint eye exercises are:
● Pencil exercise
● Brock string exercise
● Pencil pushups
● Machine-based exercises
Why Choose Centre for Sight For Paediatric Ophthalmology?
When it comes to the visual health of your child, selecting the right care provider is paramount, and Centre for Sight stands as the foremost choice for paediatric ophthalmology. Here are compelling reasons why you should choose us for your child’s eye care needs:
Expertise in Child-Focused Eye Care:
Centre For Sight boasts a team of highly specialized paediatric eye specialists who possess a deep understanding of the unique visual needs of children. With years of experience, they are adept at diagnosing and treating a wide array of eye conditions specific to young patients. Whether it’s refractive errors, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (squint), or more complex issues, our experts are dedicated to providing tailored care that addresses the specific needs of your child’s age and developmental stage.
Early Intervention for Lifelong Vision:
We recognize the critical importance of early detection and intervention in paediatric eye care. Childhood is a crucial phase for visual development, and prompt action is essential. Here, our specialists excel in identifying and managing eye disorders in children, ensuring that issues are addressed before they can affect your child’s vision and quality of life.
Child-Centric Environment:
We understand that a visit to the eye doctor can be a daunting experience for children. Therefore, we have meticulously designed a child-friendly and welcoming environment to make their journey comfortable and stress-free. Our compassionate team goes the extra mile to ensure that your child feels at ease during examinations and treatments, fostering a positive association with eye care.
Comprehensive Paediatric Services:
We offer a comprehensive range of paediatric eye care services, encompassing vision screenings, thorough eye examinations, prescription glasses, vision therapy, and surgical interventions when required. Our aim is to provide a one-stop solution for all your child’s eye care needs, from routine check-ups to complex treatments.
Cutting-Edge Technology:
We are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies tailored for paediatric patients. These advanced tools enable us to provide accurate assessments and deliver the most effective treatments, ensuring the best possible outcomes for your child’s vision.
Patient-Centric Approach:
We prioritize your child’s well-being. Our patient-centric approach involves clear and open communication with parents and guardians, providing guidance and support throughout the treatment process. We believe that informed families make empowered decisions, so we take the time to educate you about your child’s eye condition and the available treatment options.
Centre for Sight is your trusted partner for paediatric ophthalmology because of our expertise in child-focused eye care, commitment to early intervention, child-friendly environment.
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What Is an Eye Doctor for Babies Called?
Doctors for babies are known as pediatric ophthalmologists.
What Age Is Pediatric Ophthalmology For?
Pediatric ophthalmology is for children below 15 years of age, who are in developing years of life.
What Is the Meaning of Paediatric Ophthalmology?
Pediatric ophthalmology deals with diagnosing, preventing and treating eye problems that cause vision problems in children.
What is the job of a paediatric eye specialist?
Paediatric eye specialists specifically provide treatment and care to children with eye problems. Most of the problems in these cases are found only in children or require different innovative methods of diagnosis and treatment as compared to the adult versions of the same disorders.
What is the way to become a paediatric optometrist?
A paediatric optometrist is trained while working under or with a paediatric eye specialist.
What are paediatric eye doctors called?
An eye doctor for the kids is called a paediatric ophthalmologist.
When does a child need an ophthalmologist’s checkup?
All children of 2.5-3 years of age should have a baseline eye examination, irrespective of any symptoms. Do not ignore the complaints of eye-ache, difficulty in reading, sore/irritated eyes, tiredness in kids- consult a paediatric ophthalmologist to get an accurate idea of the problem and later, if necessary, treatment too.
In the case of newborns, a baseline eye health screening is required to be done by the treating paediatrician. This needs to be done at birth and later in infancy, between 6-12 months of life. In high-risk newborns, who were either born premature or had other systemic risks like sepsis, low birth weight, etc., the paediatrician seeks the help of a trained eye specialist (preferably retina specialist/paediatric ophthalmologist) to screen for retinopathy of prematurity, in the first few weeks after birth.
What is the way to become a paediatric ophthalmologist?
To become a paediatric ophthalmologist, one undergoes rigorous training where they learn to handle paediatric eye diseases in OPDs and surgery. To be able to handle any case, they do diagnosis and investigations, and eventually, learn to manage everything related to child eye care. Fellowship programs post MS are offered for the same.
Can ophthalmologists perform surgery?
It is a fact that most ophthalmologists are surgeons as well.
What happens in an appointment with the paediatric eye specialist?
During the visit to a paediatric ophthalmologist, an initial basic workup is conducted to check vision. If required, a dilated evaluation is also done. Dilation can be done either in the same visit (takes around 1.5-2 hours), or a home dilation is recommended.
Are squint surgeries safe?
Yes, squint surgeries done in hospitals with expert doctors and infrastructure are safe. Squint correction surgery corrects the vision defect in children. Surgery is recommended if other methods are not suitable for treatment for squint eyes. A paediatric ophthalmologist will do a comprehensive eye checkup of your child before starting treatment for squint. Centre for Sight provides treatment for squint eyes. The need for squint correction should be detected at the right time. The systemic fitness of the child/patient is evaluated with the help of a physician and the anesthetist-in charge.
What is the duration of a strabismus surgery or squint correction surgery?
Depends upon the number of muscles to be operated, the exact procedure planned and the type of anaesthesia. On an average, it takes 1 hour or so.
What are the average success rates of surgeries for squint?
The success rate of strabismus surgery or squint surgery depends upon the type of squint. India’s renowned eye care provider Centre for Sight provides squint eye treatment (cross-eyed treatment).
Does strabismus go away on its own, without external treatment?
Some squints in infants and young children sometimes improve with age. But always consult a paediatric ophthalmologist if you notice squint in your child.
What happens in a strabismus surgery/ squint surgery?
Strabismus surgery aims to improve or reduce squint. In the eye, six muscles control the movement of your eyes. An imbalance between them causes the development of squint. You can get squint correction surgery at Centre for Sight.
Can you cure a squint?
The conditions can be improved, and the adverse effects on vision due to a squint can be reduced with treatment. Squint eye treatment (cross-eyed treatment) should be done at the right time so that it doesn’t hamper the vision of your child.
Can squint be considered a disability?
Squint in itself is not a disability, but if it leads to irreparable vision damage, which can become a disability. Squint surgery or strabismus surgery is the last resort to treat the eye condition if all other techniques fail. Hence, an early restoration of eye alignment, in childhood is desirable.
If untreated, can a squint get worse?
Yes, a squint can get worse and be permanently damaging if it is not treated correctly. Contact Centre for Sight for the best squint treatment.
What is the squint eye treatment/ cross-eyed treatment?
Treatment for squint eyes include:
● Use of spectacles
● Practising squint eye exercises
● Squint eye surgery; every method depends upon the age of the patient and causes of squint.
Can one get squint eye through heredity?
Yes, some types of squint are hereditary. But that is not always the case. Reach Centre for Sight if you detect any symptoms in your child for timely squint correction.
What causes squint or strabismus?
The exact cause of strabismus is unknown. A loss of coordination between the muscles of both the eyes leads to some misalignment. Sometimes, hypermetropia or an eye muscle paralysis may lead to the deviation of the eye. Some other eye disease may also result in poor vision, causing eyes to deviate. Therefore, a thorough eye checkup in children is always suggested. Strabismus surgery done at the right time can save your child’s eye from getting worse.
What are the options for the treatment of squint eyes?
● Glasses
● Patching therapy
● Medications
● Surgery
Treatment of squint typically requires eye muscle surgery. However, some patients may need prisms, glasses, medications. In rare cases, it is best left untreated. The correct way to know whether the straightening of the eyes is possible is to undergo a comprehensive eye exam. The paediatric eye specialist recommends strabismus surgery, depending on the severity of the case.
Are there any complications of squint surgery?
Like any other surgery, squint surgery or strabismus surgery is not without complications. Though complications are rare, squint correction surgery might include infection of the eyeball (endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment.
How is the squint surgery performed?
Squint surgery is performed under local or general anaesthesia. It depends upon the age and complexity of squint. Squint surgery for children requires a lot of precision and care. Squint surgery involves either weakening the muscle by a procedure called recession (where it is inserted at a point behind the original insertion) or strengthening it by resection (shortening the muscle-tendon length) so that it becomes taut.
Is there a chance of recurrence after squint surgery?
There is a slight chance of under-correction or overcorrection while performing squint surgery. In those cases, the recurrence of squint is possible. However, if the surgery is done after proper evaluation and by the deft hands of experts, this chance is reduced.
How to know if my baby has a squint eye?
Consult an eye specialist for kids if you notice that your baby does not look straight.
Is squinting common in babies?
It is normal in the newborns eyes to wander during the first few weeks of birth. A babys eyes start to straighten when he/she is 4 to 6 months old. If one or both the eyes still moves inwards, outwards, up or down, its probably due to squinting. Consult an eye specialist for kids immediately.
