Pediatric Eye Exams
Finding the right doctor for your child can be hard.
Our team at Delaware Eye Institute is dedicated to helping you and your child feel comfortable while also providing the highest quality of medical care.
Our pediatric services include routine eye examinations, eyeglass prescription, and diagnosis and treatment of various eye conditions.
Why is pediatric eye care important?
The developing visual system of children’s eyes is susceptible to problems not found in the eyes of adults.
Pediatric eye care professionals have particular skills and equipment that allow them to best determine the nature of the child’s problem and are accustomed to examining pre-verbal and uncooperative patients.
What are common pediatric conditions?
Common conditions that can be treated are as follows:
- Strabismus: Strabismus is a visual problem that causes a misalignment of the eyes, making it hard for both eyes to focus on the same object at the same time.
With this condition, one eye may look straight ahead, while the other eye turns inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia), or downward (hypotropia). With strabismus, the eye turn may be intermittent, constant, or alternate between the left and right eye. - Amblyopia: Normal visual development requires proper visual stimulation and experience in infancy and childhood. When this does not occur, and the visual function in one or both eyes is impaired, then amblyopia is said to be present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it important to schedule an eye exam for my son or daughter?
YES. Eye examinations are especially important for our younger patients, as some childhood eye problems can affect future vision.
What are the causes of amblyopia?
The three main causes of amblyopia are occlusion (caused by drooping eyelids or congenital cataract), high refractive error (the need for glasses) and strabismus.
Are there different types of strabismus?
Yes! Strabismus, in which the misaligned eye turns in or out, is divided into four categories:
- Esotropia (“crossed” eye) – Eye turns in towards the nose
- Exotropia (“wandering” eye) – Eye turns out away from the nose
- Hypertropia – Eye turns higher than the other
- Hypotropia – Eye turns lower than the other eye
With strabismus, the eye turn may be intermittent, constant, or alternate between the left and right eye.
