

A wonderful environment enjoyed by children of all ages)
The bulk of pediatric ophthalmic practice
involves the medical and surgical management of strabismus, amblyopia, genetic
and developmental abnormalities and a wide range of inflammatory, traumatic and
neoplastic conditions occurring in the first two decades of life. This
subspecialty also deals with the ocular manifestations of certain systemic
disorders
Vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers
and one in four school-aged children.
Since vision problems can begin at an early age,
it is very important that children receive proper eye care. Untreated problems
can worsen and lead to permanent vision loss and delayed development.
Because it is possible for your child to have a
serious vision problem without being aware of it, infants should be screened for
common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments and vision
testing should be conducted for all children starting at around 3 years of age
for:
-
Strabismus (crossed eyes)
-
Amblyopia (lazy eye)
-
Ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid)
-
Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism)
-
Color Deficiency (color blindness)
If there is a family history of vision problems or
if your child appears to have any of the above conditions, speak to any of our
professional staff. promptly to determine when and how often your child's eyes should be examined.
Vision problems in children can be serious, but if caught in time and treated
early, your child's good vision can be protected.
Your child's toys could present a hidden danger
to his or her eyes, so make sure toys and gifts are appropriate for your child's
age and maturity level. And avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile
parts.
Sports also can endanger your child's eyes if he
or she does not wear appropriate eye protection. Sports are the leading cause of
eye injuries in children. To protect your child, make sure he or she wears
appropriate protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses or shields when playing
on the field, in the yard or on the court.
Help to ensure your child's eyes remain healthy
and injury free. Have them visit an Eye M.D., regularly and
make sure their eyes are protected.
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