Pediatric ophthalmology is a subspecialty of ophthalmology that focuses on the eye health and vision of children. It involves the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of eye conditions that affect infants, children, and adolescents, including:
- Refractive errors: These are conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, which can cause blurry vision and difficulty seeing clearly.
- Amblyopia (lazy eye): This is a condition in which one eye does not develop normal visual acuity, even with the use of corrective lenses.
- Strabismus (crossed or wandering eyes): This is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned, causing one or both eyes to turn inward or outward.
- Congenital cataracts: These are clouding of the lens that are present at birth or develop in early childhood.
- Retinopathy of prematurity: This is an eye condition that can occur in premature infants and can cause abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.
- Eye infections and inflammation: These can include conditions such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) and uveitis.
Pediatric ophthalmologists have specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of these and other eye conditions that affect children. They often work closely with other healthcare providers, such as pediatricians and neonatologists, to provide comprehensive care for their young patients. Treatment may include corrective lenses, eye patching, eye drops or ointments, surgery, or a combination of these approaches. Early detection and treatment of eye conditions in children is important for maintaining good vision and overall health throughout childhood and into adulthood.