| Q. |
What
is a pediatric ophthalmologist? |
| A. |
A
pediatric ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) who has completed at least 5 to 6 years
of post-graduate training after 4 years of medical school. A pediatric ophthalmologist is
specially trained to evaluate and treat both medical and surgical eye conditions in
children. Because they are MD’s, they are trained to see your child’s eye
conditions in the context of any other health issues. |
| Q. |
How
long will my child’s eye exam take? |
| A. |
The first
time your child visits our office a complete history is taken, followed by a thorough
exam. This typically includes dilation of the eyes with eye drops and screening for
refractive error (nearsightedness, astigmatism, etc.). Some children may take longer than
others, depending on their age and cooperation, but a good rule of thumb is to allow 1 to
1 1/2 hours for your first visit. |
| Q. |
What
is the "right" age for a first eye exam? |
| A. |
At any
age, if there is a suspected problem. Otherwise, a general guideline is between three and
four years of age, with the examination including measurement of visual acuity, eye
alignment, motility, refraction, and fundoscopy (an examination of the back of the eye).
One of the most important aspects of the examination is to identify conditions that are
only treatable at an early age. |
| Q. |
My
child seems to see fine. How can I tell if there is a problem? |
| A. |
Both you
and you child may be unaware there is any problem since a decrease in vision in one eye is
often compensated for by the other eye. If no problems are apparent, your child should
receive a careful vision screening between the ages of three and four. |
| Q. |
How
can the doctor effectively examine my stubborn two year old? |
| A. |
Patience,
and a few tricks of the trade. Your child does not have to speak, or even be entirely
cooperative to be examined. With special eye drops and equipment, the doctor can see into
the eye and measure to see if your child needs glasses, even if they can’t read! The
doctor will also check for any eye misalignment or other ocular problem. |
| Q. |
Do
you prescribe “vision therapy”? |
| A. |
No.
Ophthalmologists view the eye as a wonderfully complex organ which is, literally and
physically, a direct extension of the brain and neurological (central nervous) system. For
further information, we strongly recommend a review of the policy statement on learning disabilities and
dyslexia published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Academy of
Pediatrics. |
| Q. |
My
child complains of headaches. Is this an eye problem? |
| A. |
Maybe.
Sometimes, a need for glasses will cause headaches, but there are a number of other ocular
and medical conditions that can cause eye pain and headaches. These types of complaints
should first be investigated by your pediatrician, who may refer your child to a pediatric
ophthalmologist for additional investigation. |
| Q. |
My
child sits close to the TV. Is there anything wrong? |
| A. |
Most
children like to sit close to the TV because the picture is bigger the closer they are to
the screen. Some of them may need glasses, but sitting close to the TV is not a definitive
indication of eye problems. |
| Q. |
My
child blinks a lot. Is there anything wrong? |
| A. |
Often,
blinking is a nervous habit or tic. It is usually a good idea to make sure there is no
underlying eye problem, especially if there are associated symptoms such as redness,
tearing, rubbing, etc. |
| Q. |
I
wear glasses. Does this mean my child will need glasses? |
| A. |
Maybe.
Certain eye conditions are hereditary. If there is a strong family history of any eye
condition, early examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist may be advisable. |
| Q. |
Does
the doctor have to use eye drops to examine my child? |
| A. |
Usually,
yes. Dilating the pupils with an eye drop allows the doctor to get a good look at the
inside of the eye. In addition, the eye drop relaxes the “focusing muscles” that
attach onto the lens of the eye. This lets them objectively measure refractive error
(i.e., if glasses might be needed). |
| Q. |
Are
there any long-term effects of the eye drops? |
| A. |
Depending
on the drop used, your child’s pupils may be dilated up to a day or so. Near vision
(for reading) might be blurred for several hours, and there can be a bit of sensitivity to
direct sunlight. Most children return to school on the day of the eye exam. |
| Q. |
What
types of surgery do pediatric ophthalmologists perform? |
| A. |
The most
common surgeries are those that straighten eye alignment (strabismus or “eye muscle
surgery). Another common procedure is probing and irrigation of blocked tear ducts. When
necessary, the doctors also perform surgery on the eyelids and tissue around the eyes. |
|