Pediatric Ophthalmology
Pediatric ophthalmologists specialize in diagnosing and treating eye conditions in infants, children and teenagers. A child's visual system develops rapidly during the first years of life, making early detection and treatment essential. From routine vision screenings to complex surgical care, pediatric eye specialists help protect your child's sight during every stage of development.
Often called lazy eye, amblyopia happens when one eye develops weaker vision than the other during childhood. The brain begins to favor the stronger eye, and the weaker eye might not develop normal sight without help. Doctors look for this early because treatment works best during the first few years of life. Eye doctors often use patching, special eye drops or glasses to encourage the weaker eye to work harder.
When eyes do not align properly, it is known as strabismus or crossed eyes. One eye might turn inward, outward, upward or downward while the other focuses straight ahead. This can be present at birth or show up later in childhood. Finding it early is important to prevent depth perception issues and lazy eye. An eye doctor can treat this using glasses, vision exercises, special prism lenses or surgery.
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that can block normal vision development. Babies can be born with them, or they can develop as a child grows. Small cloudy spots might not cause problems, but larger ones often need to be removed by a pediatric eye surgeon to protect long-term sight. Infant eye screenings help catch these cloudy lenses early.
It is common for newborns to have a drainage system for tears that does not open fully. This causes extra tearing, a crusty discharge around the eyelids and mild redness. Gentle massage and keeping the area clean usually help the duct open on its own during the first year. If the tearing continues, a specialist can perform a quick procedure to clear the pathway.
When to See a Pediatric Ophthalmologist
Certain signs in your child's vision or eye appearance should prompt a visit to a pediatric ophthalmologist. Watch for eyes that appear misaligned or crossed, a white or cloudy pupil, frequent squinting or head tilting, difficulty tracking objects, one eye that turns in or out, or complaints of blurry or double vision. Children with a family history of childhood eye conditions, premature birth or developmental delays should also receive regular pediatric eye evaluations even without symptoms.
Pediatric Eye Care
Co-Management
Optometrists and pediatric ophthalmologists in our network work together to coordinate your child's eye care. A local eye doctor can monitor ongoing conditions like lazy eye and crossed eyes, manage follow-up visits and track vision milestones. They make sure your child's treatment stays on track between visits to a pediatric specialist.
Pediatric Vision Testing and Screening
Accurate testing is the foundation of good eye care for kids. Eye doctors use special tools designed for children who cannot read an eye chart or describe what they see. Tests that check how well the eyes focus, measure alignment and use lights or cameras help find issues early in development.
Pediatric Eye Treatments and Procedures
Pediatric eye doctors use treatments designed for the unique needs of growing eyes. Options include prescription glasses, eye patches, special drops or surgery to align the eyes or clear cloudy lenses. A specialist will recommend the safest approach based on your child's age and specific vision needs.
Premature babies sometimes have trouble with the blood vessels growing in the back of their eyes. When born too early, these vessels can grow poorly and cause scarring or serious damage to the retina. This happens most often in babies born before 31 weeks or at a very low birth weight. Doctors screen preemies carefully to catch and treat this early, which helps protect their future sight.
High pressure inside the eye can damage the optic nerve, a serious condition that can be present at birth or appear later. Signs in a baby might include unusually large eyes, heavy tearing, a cloudy look to the front of the eye or strong sensitivity to light. A pediatric eye surgeon usually needs to perform a procedure to lower the pressure and save the child's vision.
A drooping upper eyelid can affect one or both of a child's eyes. It usually happens from birth because the muscle that lifts the eyelid is weak. If the heavy lid blocks the pupil, it stops the eye from seeing clearly and can cause lazy eye. Doctors often recommend a minor surgery to lift the eyelid so visual development can continue normally.
Some children have eyes that move back and forth, up and down or in circles without them trying to do so. This involuntary movement usually starts in infancy and can be tied to other visual or neurological issues. Kids might turn or tilt their head to a specific angle where the shaking slows down so they can see better. Eye doctors help improve vision with glasses, special lenses or sometimes surgery.
Related Pediatric Eye Conditions
Many conditions can affect your child's eyes and visual development. Understanding these related conditions helps you recognize symptoms early and make informed decisions about your child's care.
Explore
Pediatric Eye Care Topics
Learn more about the conditions, treatments and diagnostic tools used in pediatric eye care. Select a topic below to explore further.