Many people are aware that an ophthalmologist is a type of medical doctor who specializes in the treatment and care of the eyes and vision.
Similarly, many people are aware that pediatrics is a specialization in the medical field that focuses on the treatment and medical care of children and the diseases and illnesses of childhood.
However, the field of pediatric ophthalmology is relatively unknown.
A pediatric ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of the vision and eyes of children and has specialized knowledge of the common eye diseases and injuries that may affect children more or differently than they would adults.
Pediatric ophthalmology is a highly specialized field of medicine. If you have a child with any type of vision or an eye problem, visiting the best pediatric ophthalmologist you can find is the most effective way to guarantee the health of your children’s eyes and optimal vision care for years to come.
Specialized Vision Care for Children
The best pediatric ophthalmologist first completes a thorough assessment of your infant or child’s vision and overall eye health. He or she will order further testing depending on the results.
The main reason why your child should see a pediatric ophthalmologist is that they are extremely knowledgeable about the types of diseases that affect the eyes and vision of children in particular.
Some eye diseases that disproportionately affect children include strabismus, or crossed eyes, amblyopia, or lazy eye, and infantile-onset glaucoma.
The assessment of children’s vision is different from that of adults; for example, infants are unable to read off an eye chart as older people would be expected to and the doctor has to conduct different sorts of tests.
The Pediatric Ophthalmologic Difference
One reason why seeing an ophthalmologist who specializes in the pediatric population is a good idea is that it is simply easier on you as the parent. Children are often terrified of the unknown and entering a sterile medical environment where a stranger will potentially poke and prod at their eyeballs is a recipe for a meltdown.
When you go to a pediatric ophthalmologist, they are well-accustomed to working with children and the fears children have about going to the eye doctor and have developed ways to effectively deal with these fears.
The best pediatric ophthalmologist knows how to explain tests, procedures, and diseases at a level a young child can understand and will be able to quickly allay any fears your child may have.
