Reading, PA Pediatric Eye Care

Pediatric eye care involves the diagnosis, treatment, and management of eye problems in children. Our experts at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania near Reading PA begin pediatric eye care with an examination of your child’s eyes as part of a comprehensive examination that includes an evaluation of the child’s vision, eye health, and eye alignment.

Common Pediatric Eye Issues

Our pediatric eye care professionals treat common eye conditions in children, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye turn), and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism).

They also diagnose and manage more serious eye problems in children, such as congenital cataracts, glaucoma, retinoblastoma, and other disorders. We have pediatric ophthalmologists on staff; they are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders in children, including surgery when needed.

Eye Alignment

Eye alignment is an important aspect of eye health in children. Good eye alignment means that both eyes are pointing at the same object and working together in perfect coordination. Eye misalignment, also known as strabismus, occurs when the eyes do not align. This can lead to poor depth perception and double vision.

There are several causes of eye alignment problems in children, including:

1. Congenital conditions – Some children may be born with eye alignment issues. This could be due to a problem with the muscles that control eye movement or with the nerves that control eye movement.
2. Refractive errors – Children who are farsighted, nearsighted or have astigmatism can develop eye alignment problems. These conditions can cause one eye to work harder than the other, leading to an eye turn.
3. Neurological conditions – Children with neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or hydrocephalus are more likely to have eye alignment problems.
4. Lack of use – If a child has poor vision in one eye, the brain may learn to ignore that eye. This can lead to an eye turn in the weaker eye.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Eye alignment problems in children should be diagnosed and treated early to prevent long-term vision problems. Treatment options include:

1. Glasses – If the eye misalignment is due to refractive errors, glasses can help to correct the problem.
2. Vision therapy – Vision therapy exercises can be used to strengthen the eye muscles and improve eye coordination.
3. Eye patching – Placing a patch over the stronger eye can force the weaker eye to work harder and improve alignment.
4. Surgery – In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the alignment problem, and is usually only done when other treatments have not been successful.

Regular eye exams are important for detecting eye alignment problems and other vision issues in children. Parents should be aware of any signs of eye misalignment, such as one eye turning in or out. Early detection and treatment of eye problems in children are essential for maintaining good vision and academic success. Regular eye exams can help catch and treat any problems before they worsen. Therefore, parents are encouraged to take their children for regular eye examinations, starting from infancy. If you need pediatric eye care near Reading PA, come see us at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania in nearby Blandon. We are ready to care for your child’s eyesight.