Many children and newborn newborns suffer from various eye problems. The sooner these problems are detected and addressed, the better. Paediatric ophthalmology is concerned with children’s eye issues and their treatment.
Paediatric ophthalmology aids in the early diagnosis of vision-related disorders in children. Eye defects, if not treated before six months of birth, can leave a child blind for life. The reason for this is that the optic nerve is still developing during the first six months of life, and if eye disorders are not treated during this time, irreversible damage may occur.
Similarly, young children may have a range of vision problems without even realising it. This is why it is vital to incorporate paediatric ophthalmology in the curriculum.
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What happens during an eye examination for your child?
A series of eye exams will be performed on your child to establish their eye health. The examination for your youngster will most likely span many hours. Two or three of our doctors normally conduct the testing. We shall uncover in the first round of tests:
How well your child detects close and faraway items. If your child is unable to read, we can evaluate his or her eyesight using examinations that may include pictures or shapes.
Your child has depth perception.
How well your child’s eyes align and move together when tracking objects (done by an orthoptist).
Peripheral vision, commonly known as side vision in children.
In the second part of the exam, we could:
Put eye drops in your child’s eyes to dilate or widen the pupils.
After around 30 minutes, an ophthalmologist will inspect the interior of the eyes through the widened pupils to see if there are any problems and to determine 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, however they can prescribe medication for some eye conditions. Ophthalmologists are trained to identify and treat all eye disorders and problems.
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