A pediatric ophthalmologist refers to a type of medical doctor who mainly specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye in children. He or she can help detect many problems early before they get worse and more expensive to treat. Here are some reasons from Dr David Stager why your child might need to see one.
Make Sure Your Child Receives The Best Eye Care
If you’re a parent and your child is having vision problems, make sure that they receive the best eye care possible. A pediatric ophthalmologist has medical experience with children and their unique visual needs. They specialize in treating children with eye diseases like strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), cataracts, and glaucoma.
Other than that, pediatric ophthalmology also includes treatment of retinoblastoma (cancerous tumors) on the retina of infants, as well as LASIK surgery for adults under 18 years old, who have high refractive errors such as nearsightedness.
Reduce The Risk Of Vision Problems
A child’s vision can be affected by problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and more. These visual conditions can also cause eye strain, which can lead to permanent damage if not treated early on.
For that matter, the best way to prevent these problems from developing is through regular eye exams at an early age, so that any existing issues can be identified early on before they become serious or permanent.
Prevent Eye Strabismus
And finally, if your child has strabismus of any kind, then it’s very important to get them checked by an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Strabismus can be treated with glasses and/or surgery, but it’s best to catch it early on so that treatment can be more effective. If you notice any signs of strabismus in your child (like one eye turning in), make sure they see an ophthalmologist right away!