Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that cares for diseases of the eye and the area surrounding the eye such as the eyelids. Ophthalmologists are doctors who evaluate and treat eye conditions or problems with eyesight. They generally provide eye exams, perform surgery and treat eye injuries.
Because healthy eyes and vision are a very important part of a child's development, their eyes should be examined regularly. Early detection and correction is important; especially as children reach school age because vision problems can affect learning.
When children have vision problems, they may show the following signs:
- Eye rubbing
- Sensitivity to light
- Poor focusing
- Abnormal eye alignment
- Trouble following objects
- Chronic redness
- Chronic tearing
- White pupils (instead of black)
- Inability to see objects that are far away
- Trouble reading
- Squinting
- Sitting too close to the television
Common eye conditions in children include:
- Near- and farsightedness
- Astigmatism
- Lazy eye
- Misalignment of the eyes
- Malignant tumor on the eye
- Infantile cataracts
- Congenital glaucoma
In addition to eye problems, children can also injure their eye and need medical attention. Eyes injuries can include:
- Routine irritations (sand, dirt, and other foreign bodies in the eye)
- Embedded foreign body in the eye
- Chemical exposure
- Black eye, blunt injury or contusion
Virtua's board-certified ophthalmologists offer a wide range of specialized ophthalmologic care and provide the latest treatments for eye problems and injuries. To diagnose eye problems, Virtua ophthalmologists use the following tools and procedures:
- Eye exams
- A and B scans
- Glaucoma test
- Visual field exams
- Ultrasounds and other imaging technologies
- Optic nerve fiber analysis
Then, based on the condition, Virtua ophthalmologists provide the following treatments:
- Glasses or contacts
- Surgical procedures including LASIK
- Cryotherapy
- Laser treatments
- Contact lens fitting