Paediatric Ophthalmologist – Choosing the Best Eye Doctor for Kids
Children are not miniature adults. Their eyes, visual needs, and disorders are entirely different than from those of adults. Since they are rapidly growing, and are yet to develop a fully mature eye-brain coordination, disorders of vision in children require special attention and focus. This is why pediatric ophthalmology has evolved as a specialized discipline, and indeed a subspecialty in ophthalmology
The pediatric ophthalmologist is responsible for taking care of the visual attention needs of the children, and ensuring a proper visual development regarding both function and structure (including cosmesis).
How is the eye of the child different?
Just as a particular doctor is required for your child’s general health, even the eyes of a child need specialist care. It is because the considerations in terms of eye care are entirely different from those in adults. The reasons for this are as follows:
- The brain-eye connections are not fully made, so any deprivation of vision in early childhood, if it remains uncorrected, can result in lazy eye or amblyopia. These means that the visual potential of the child becomes limited, and even proper corrective glasses cannot help in later help. Amblyopia therapy is critical in the early years of life
- The congenital anomalies or disorders of development show up in the early years of life. These can range for refractive errors which merely require corrective glasses, to squint or misalignment of eyes, congenital nasolacrimal duct block, ptosis or lid droop and even cataract and glaucoma.
- Infants who are born premature, of low birth weight or who have a prolonged tumultuous stay in the newborn nursery, are at risk for a disease called Retinopathy of Prematurity, RoP. RoP is potentially vision threatening and must be screened for in these high-risk
- In settings of malnutrition, children are susceptible to Vitamin A deficiency, and its attendant eye problems including dry eye, corneal ulcers, and even blindness. Fussy and choosy eaters may also sometimes be deficient in some micronutrients despite being healthy and well fed otherwise.
- Children, because of their active lifestyle and playing outdoors are more prone to eye allergies and trauma.
- There is a set of eye tumors and malignancies that are typical of infancy and childhood like retinoblastoma.
What are the symptoms and signs of eye problems in children?
- Reading disability and problem in school in copying what is written on the board could be an indication of poor vision
- Any frequent headaches, eye rubbing, red eye, recurrent eye infections and watering from eyes
- Any family history of eye disorders including the need for glasses (refractive errors), can be passed from one generation to another and must be evaluated early on in life. The frequency and schedule of an eye examination in children are mentioned here.
Which is best hospital for eye care in children?
For your child’s eye care, Eye7 Chaudhary Eye Centre is the best eye clinic and some of the top pediatric ophthalmologists in Delhi, who understand the importance of healthy eyes and good sight for the overall development of a child.
They are not only exemplary in their professionalism and training, but also in their ability to make friends with your child, and ensure that the children look forward to a visit to the eye doctor.
The environment in the pediatric ophthalmology department is always relaxed, and the staff always eager to play with the children, ensuring trouble and hassle-free eye check-up for your precious little one.
This, of course, comes with the Eye7 Chaudhary Eye Centre’s promise of professional integrity, and state of the art technology, at affordable rates for all, at a center near you.