Paediatric Ophthalmology & Squint Clinic
Paediatric ophthalmology is one of the departments of ophthalmology that deals treating the various ophthalmic problems in children belonging to the age groups from ‘just born’ to ‘teens’ as well as for adults with strabismus. The Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Service provides comprehensive primary care for the diagnosis and management of infant and child vision and common childhood vision disorders. It also performs surgery to correct ocular misalignment and double vision in children and adults.
The child must go for an eye check-up if the following symptoms are noticeable
Crossed eyes/Lazy eye.
Injury to the eye.
Cataract.
Keeps object close to his eyes.
Not being able to see the blackboard at school.
One or both parents wear glasses.
Feeling scratchy, itching or burning sensation in the eyes.
Drooping of upper eyelids.
Small or Big eyes.
Premature babies.
Squint (strabismus)
The eyes in a newborn are generally not aligned. Alignment is established only between 3-4 weeks. If misalignment persists in a baby over a month old then it should be evaluated.
This condition where the eyes are misaligned and the two eyes look out in different directions is called Squint or Strabismus. This can either be permanent or occasional with eyes straight at other times. It is common in children and may also occur in adults.
It is caused by a lack of coordination between the six muscles that control the movement of each eye leading to misalignment. This may be the same in all directions or may be pronounced in one direction. This may be caused by refractive error, long sight, or poor vision in one eye due to various eye diseases. In the case of squint, a thorough examination of the eyes is necessary, especially in children. An Ophthalmologist will establish the nature and cause of squint after evaluation and suggest corrective measures.
The treatment will revolve around
Preservation or restoration of vision
Straightening of the eyes
Restoration of binocular vision
If there is a refractive error, then that is treated first. The eyes are checked for Amblyopia and treated. The parents are involved in this treatment process as their cooperation is vital for the success of the treatment. The squint is then treated surgically by strengthening or weakening the relevant muscles to restore balance and coordination.
