Pediatric Eye Conditions

The earlier pediatric eye conditions are caught, the better the potential treatment outcome.

Henry Ford pediatric ophthalmologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all pediatric eye disease and other conditions. We examine and treat children of all ages, even small infants.

What types of pediatric eye conditions do you treat?

Pediatric ophthalmologists diagnose and treat many pediatric eye diseases and conditions in children, including:

• Strabismus: One common pediatric eye condition is strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes. The eyes can be misaligned in any direction. The direction in which the eye drifts determines the specific term used to describe the strabismus. For example, if a child has eyes that turn in or “cross,” they have an esotropia. For eyes that drift apart, they have exotropia. Henry Ford pediatric ophthalmologists are experienced in strabismus treatment, including strabismus surgery. Because pediatric ophthalmologists are so experienced in the treatment of childhood strabismus, they will sometimes see adult patients with problems related to adult strabismus. These patients may be experiencing double vision or may just desire a better alignment of their eyes.
• Amblyopia: Another common pediatric eye condition, amblyopia, is a loss of vision from lack of use in an otherwise normal eye. Amblyopia can develop in eyes with strabismus, eyes that are out of focus compared to the other eye and eyes with problems like cataracts or corneal opacities (cloudiness).
• Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP): Pediatric ophthalmologists also examine premature infants for retinopathy of prematurity. This is a potentially blinding pediatric eye disease seen in premature low birth weight babies. Examinations are performed in both the neonatal intensive care unit and the ophthalmologist’s office after discharge.
• Pediatric cataracts: There are two types of pediatric cataracts, which can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated: congenital cataracts that are present at birth, and developmental cataracts that appear later in a child’s life.
• Congenital glaucoma: Children also may develop glaucoma, a pediatric eye disease in which the pressure inside the eye rises to a point where it damages the optic nerve – the nerve at the back of the eye that carries visual information to the brain – and impairs vision.
• Diplopia: Also known as double vision, diplopia is a complex pediatric eye condition that in some cases may be a sign of a serious disorder.
• Nasolacrimal duct obstruction: A blocked tear duct, a pediatric eye condition known as nasolacrimal duct obstruction, is a common condition in infants.
• Pediatric refractive errors: There are three common types of pediatric refractive error – nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Your Henry Ford pediatric ophthalmologist will recommend the best treatment based on your child’s unique needs, and work with you every step of the way.

At Henry Ford, patients come first.

The Henry Ford Department of Ophthalmology is committed to providing our patients with compassionate, personalized care. We feature the most advanced treatments in eye care and are dedicated to vision research – always staying at the forefront of innovation. A leader in Michigan, as well as one of the largest ophthalmology practices in the United States, we treat more than 55,000 patients per year at 12 locations throughout southeast Michigan. In addition, our team works closely with Henry Ford Medical Group physicians in other departments, providing multidisciplinary, coordinated care for those patients who need it.