| Pediatric
Ophthalmology
Physician at The Eye Clinic
provide comprehensive family eye care, including specialized
treatment that may be required by infants and children.
Several of our physicians have a special interest in caring
for children's eye problems, and we provide educational and
screening programs to children throughout Southwest
Louisiana. We are also affiliated with a pediatric
ophthalmologist from New Orleans who has regularly scheduled
office hours in our Lake Charles office. This physician
performs many surgical procedures at Lake Charles Memorial
Hospital, eliminating the need for parents and their
children to leave the area to receive the specialized care
they need.
We have the experience and
skills to treat most childhood ophthalmic disorders,
including:
- Amblyopia (commonly called
"lazy eye")
- Strabismus (misaligned or
turned eyes)
- Pseudostrabismus (the
appearance of crossed eyes)
- Ptosis (drooping of the
upper eyelid)
- Childhood cataracts
- Refractive errors (myopia,
hyperopia, astigmatism)
Our Optics Unlimited eyewear
store also provides a complete line of eyewear and
accessories for our pediatric patients.
Guidelines for Childhood Eye
Exams:
All children should have
their eyes examined on a regular basis by their pediatrician
or family physician. We also recommend the following
schedule of eye exams as endorsed by the American Academy of
Pediatrics and the American Association for Pediatric
Ophthalmology and Strabismus:
- At birth
- Regular check-ups with
vision testing using verbal charts before school-age
- At least one thorough exam
by an ophthalmologist including refraction and dilated
retina check should be done before the age of five even
in children who do not show signs of eye problems.
Urgent or more frequent eye
exams are indicated if you see one or more of the following
warning signs in a pre-verbal child:
- Misalignment
- Head tilt
- Lack of fixation
- Jerking eye movements
- White pupil
- Slow or unequal pupils
- Excess sensitivity to
light
- Drooping Lid
- Redness
- Swelling around the
eyelids
- Large eyes
- Pain or headache
- Excess tearing
- Squinting or frequent
blinking
- Moving close to objects to
see
Once children become verbal,
they will able to better communicate any vision or eye
problems they experience. School-aged children should have
their vision checked on a regular basis. |
