Strabismus Surgery (lazy eye)
Patients with strabismus have eyes that are misaligned so when one eye focuses on an object, the other may turn in, out, up, or down – confusing the visual image sent to the brain. If left untreated, strabismus (lazy eye) may cause the brain to ignore the messages it receives from the misaligned eye (a condition called amblyopia). Fortunately, strabismus can be treated with surgery. Surgery can adjust the muscles that hold the eye in place, ensuring that these muscles can contract or lengthen when the patient looks at a close or far object. Although strabismus is most commonly diagnosed in children, some adults have the condition as well. The earlier the problem is detected, the more successful treatment can be. Please contact us to learn more about strabismus (lazy eye) surgery.
Pediatric Cataract Surgery
A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens. It is characterized by blurred vision not improved with glasses, glares, and difficulty reading. Most common in older adults – a cataract is a natural degeneration – cataracts sometimes form prematurely in children. Sometimes, children are born with cataracts, which to date can only be treated with surgery. During this surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a synthetic replica if the child is old enough, typically after age one or two. Many patients reporting improved vision soon after surgery. To find out more about pediatric cataract surgery, please call The Eye Care Group today.
If your child has had previous cataract surgery and did not have a lens implanted in his or her eye, the placement of secondary intraocular lens implants is the next step. During this surgery, a second intraocular lens is inserted into the eye. This is an effective, safe, viable solution for children who have had previous cataract surgery and are experiencing problems with thick glasses or contact lenses.
In addition, many systemic conditions, such as craniofacial syndromes, genetic syndromes, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, have associated eye findings that we help diagnose and treat. We pride ourselves on our communication with you and your pediatrician and the skill and comfort of our pediatric eye care team when working with your child or adolescent. You can also rest assured that you have 24-hour access to one of our doctors 7 days a week for ocular emergencies.
On your initial visit, expect that your child will need eye drops that dilate the eyes. These eye drops require approximately 40 minutes to fully relax focusing ability. Therefore we recommend that you plan on an appointment length of approximately 2.5 hours for your initial visit. Please plan on either arriving 15 minutes early or complete the pediatric registration form prior to your appointment. Learn more about eye muscle surgery in which we specialize, and the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group NIH-sponsored available at our practice for the treatment of strabismus and amblyopia.
