Pediatric ophthalmology
Pediatric ophthalmology
Pediatric ophthalmology (pronunciation: pē-dē-ˈa-trik ˌäf-thəl-ˈmä-lə-jē) is a sub-specialty of ophthalmology that focuses on the vision care and eye diseases in children.
Etymology
The term "pediatric ophthalmology" is derived from the Greek words "pais" (child) and "iatros" (doctor), and "ophthalmos" (eye) and "logia" (study). Thus, it translates to "the study of eye diseases in children by a doctor".
Overview
Pediatric ophthalmologists are medical and surgical doctors (Eye M.D.s) who graduated from medical school and specialized in the eye and vision care of children. Pediatric ophthalmologists are trained to perform complex eye surgery as well as to manage children's eye problems using glasses and medications. Many ophthalmologists and other physicians refer pediatric patients to a pediatric ophthalmologist for examination and management of ocular problems due to children's unique needs. In addition to children with obvious vision problems, children with head turns, head tilts, squinting of the eyes, or preferred head postures (torticollis) are typically referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist for evaluation.
Related Terms
- Amblyopia: Also known as lazy eye, a vision development disorder in which an eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity, even with prescription eyewear or contact lenses.
- Strabismus: A condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object.
- Pediatric cataracts: A clouding of the eye's natural lens in infancy or childhood.
- Pediatric glaucoma: A rare condition that may be inherited, caused by incorrect development of the eye's drainage system before birth.
- Retinopathy of prematurity: An eye disease that occurs in premature babies where abnormal blood vessels grow and spread throughout the retina, the tissue that lines the back of the eye.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pediatric ophthalmology
- Wikipedia's article - Pediatric ophthalmology
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