Paediatric Ophthalmology & Squint Treatment
Paediatric ophthalmology is a subspecialty of ophthalmology that concerns vision care in children. Since the visual system is in a developing phase in childhood, hence it is imperative that any eye disorder in children be identified and rectified, as early as possible. paediatric ophthalmologists treat eye defects in children through medication, therapies, and complex eye surgeries. Due to their expertise in handling eye movement disorders, paediatric ophthalmologists also treat squint in adults.
HAVE YOU PLANNED YOUR CHILD’s EYE CHECKUP VISIT?
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WHY YOUR CHILD NEEDS AN EXPERT PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGIST?
Children experience a variety of eye problems, which are relatively distinct from adult eye diseases.
● It is crucial to be attentive to children’s eye care when their eye-brain connections are still developing and strengthening. All of these reasons demand an additional emphasis on their requirements.
● Any problem at this stage has the potential to hinder their future visual capabilities permanently Children’s eye care issues may not always be apparent, and the child may not complain. Hence, the need to objectively assess the needs, if any.
What does Centre for Sight offer for children?
Paediatric ophthalmologists at Centre for Sight are equipped to manage the following disorders:
Infections like conjunctivitis
Strabismus or squint eye treatment (squint surgery)
Blocked tear ducts
Ptosis
Abnormal vision development
Retinopathy of prematurity
Amblyopia
Convergence insufficiency
Congenital malformations
Refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc
COMMON EYE-RELATED SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN THAT DEMAND YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
● The most commonly noticeable sign in children is the challenge in reading the content written on blackboards in school. Sometimes, they even struggle to write in their notebooks.
● It is easy to recognise a physical symptom such as misalignment of the eyes, a squint in the eyes, drooping eyelids, or any other physical deformity around the eyes that may appear to affect the vision. Timely detection and diagnosis are essential for treatment for squint eyes.
● Children often feel more discomfort as compared to adults who have a higher tolerance for pain or irritation. Any signs of frequent headaches along with watery or red eyes, recurring inflammation or irritation in the eyes, should not be dismissed easily.
● Easy susceptibility to different types of eye infections is also a very visible indicator that a detailed eye check-up is a must for the child.
● Some of the disorders regarding the sense of sight are also hereditary. If one has a family history of eye-related disorders or needs corrective glasses, the same problems may manifest in children.
What are common eye diseases in children?
The most common eye diseases seen in children are squint, refractive errors (spectacle requirement), lazy eye disease, congenital or paediatric cataract, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and rarely tumours.
Understanding Squint (Strabismus)
Strabismus or squint is an eye condition in which the eyes are not aligned in the same direction. This eye disorder may or may not manifest in children. They usually develop before five years of age but can appear later too.
Strabismus may also occur in adults due to residual childhood strabismus. Treatment for squint eyes becomes unmissable if you notice one eye of your child turning inwards, upwards, downwards, or outwards, while the other one focuses on one spot.
Depending on the type of strabismus, the expert surgeons at Centre for Sight perform squint surgery or strabismus surgery. We have some of the most reliable names in the field of ophthalmology, eye procedures, and squint treatment.
If ignored or left untreated, squint, or strabismus may lead to further severe problems like persistent blurred or double vision, and lazy eye- an early childhood eye condition in which the eyesight does not develop properly in one eye. This eye condition is also known as amblyopia.
Squint eye treatment (Cross-eyed Treatment) at Centre for Sight
The paediatric ophthalmologists’ team at Centre for Sight offers all forms of treatment for strabismus. Based on the patient’s condition, our team provides correct consultation and the treatment that will go with the specific eye condition.
With more than two decades of experience in eye care and squint correction surgery, choosing Centre for Sight for strabismus surgery is the right decision.
Strategically located in New Delhi and other parts of the country, the objective of the Centre for Sight is to help people struggling with eye disorders, diseases, and problems.
CHOOSE CENTRE FOR SIGHT FOR SPECIALISED EYE CARE
Why Us?
Age No Bar: We have patients from newborns to more than 80 years of age
We have an able paediatric eye specialist team that works with modern facilities
We are present across many states in India for your child’s eye care
What are the goals of strabismus treatment?
Restore alignment of eyes
Restore binocular vision and facilitate visual development
Preserve vision
The surgeon performing the squint correction surgery needs to know the exact cause of the misaligned eyes. Unbalanced muscles, Nerve defects, or any other condition could be the reason for eyes to turn.
After a thorough eye examination, including a comprehensive study of the inner parts of the eye, our surgeons at Centre for Sight advise appropriate optical, medical, or surgical therapy.
Strabismus treatment or cross-eyed treatment needs to be early and aggressive. If the eye turn is constant and patching, glasses (bifocal, prismatic, etc.) do not eliminate the eye turn; then, surgery needs to be considered.
Are squint eye exercises helpful in dealing with the condition?
Practising eye exercises, as recommended by the ophthalmologists, may help in aligning eyes in selected cases. There are many vision therapy programs that are customized according to the needs of the patient. Squint eye exercises in a vision treatment plan are advised only after a thorough eye examination.
Squint eye exercises aim to improve the coordination of the eyes and to delay the need for surgery. They can be done at home or as suggested by the expert.
Some of the widely known squint eye exercises are:
● Pencil exercise
● Brock string exercise
● Pencil pushups
● Machine-based exercises
Are you thinking about squint eye surgery cost?
Is the squint surgery cost bothering you? Keep your worry at bay with Centre for Sight. We follow a cost-effective approach for strabismus surgery.
We have state-of-the-art hospitals that offer comprehensive treatment for squint eyes. Contact us to know more about squint eye surgery costs, and we will help you at the earliest.
How to correct squint eyes in babies?
We offer regular checkups, plan treatments, and provide a comprehensive diagnosis of your childs eye care needs. Get quality squint correction surgery at Centre for Sight. Our eye specialists for kids always make sure to lighten the environment in our paediatric ophthalmology department. Our paediatric ophthalmologists ensure hassle-free treatment of your little ones.
Crossed-eye surgery or squint surgery is pretty common. Mild cases are managed with spectacles, wherever possible. However, significant eye deviations, not correctable by glasses alone, require surgery. Squint correction is a highly specialized surgery performed by our eye specialists for kids and is a common treatment for squints.
Other treatment services offered for squint correction surgery for children
Other treatment services offered for squint correction surgery for children
Refraction test under dilation
Amblyopia treatment and therapy
Strabismus surgery/ Squint surgery
Corrective eyeglasses and other visual aids
Various surgical treatments and medical therapy
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What is the job of a paediatric eye specialist?
Paediatric eye specialists specifically provide treatment and care to children with eye problems. Most of the problems in these cases are found only in children or require different innovative methods of diagnosis and treatment as compared to the adult versions of the same disorders.
What is the way to become a paediatric optometrist?
A paediatric optometrist is trained while working under or with a paediatric eye specialist.
What are paediatric eye doctors called?
An eye doctor for the kids is called a paediatric ophthalmologist.
When does a child need an ophthalmologist’s checkup?
All children of 2.5-3 years of age should have a baseline eye examination, irrespective of any symptoms. Do not ignore the complaints of eye-ache, difficulty in reading, sore/irritated eyes, tiredness in kids- consult a paediatric ophthalmologist to get an accurate idea of the problem and later, if necessary, treatment too.
In the case of newborns, a baseline eye health screening is required to be done by the treating paediatrician. This needs to be done at birth and later in infancy, between 6-12 months of life. In high-risk newborns, who were either born premature or had other systemic risks like sepsis, low birth weight, etc., the paediatrician seeks the help of a trained eye specialist (preferably retina specialist/paediatric ophthalmologist) to screen for retinopathy of prematurity, in the first few weeks after birth.
What is the way to become a paediatric ophthalmologist?
To become a paediatric ophthalmologist, one undergoes rigorous training where they learn to handle paediatric eye diseases in OPDs and surgery. To be able to handle any case, they do diagnosis and investigations, and eventually, learn to manage everything related to child eye care. Fellowship programs post MS are offered for the same.
Can ophthalmologists perform surgery?
It is a fact that most ophthalmologists are surgeons as well.
What happens in an appointment with the paediatric eye specialist?
During the visit to a paediatric ophthalmologist, an initial basic workup is conducted to check vision. If required, a dilated evaluation is also done. Dilation can be done either in the same visit (takes around 1.5-2 hours), or a home dilation is recommended.
Are squint surgeries safe?
Yes, squint surgeries done in hospitals with expert doctors and infrastructure are safe. Squint correction surgery corrects the vision defect in children. Surgery is recommended if other methods are not suitable for treatment for squint eyes. A paediatric ophthalmologist will do a comprehensive eye checkup of your child before starting treatment for squint. Centre for Sight provides treatment for squint eyes. The need for squint correction should be detected at the right time. The systemic fitness of the child/patient is evaluated with the help of a physician and the anesthetist-in charge.
What is the duration of a strabismus surgery or squint correction surgery?
Depends upon the number of muscles to be operated, the exact procedure planned and the type of anaesthesia. On an average, it takes 1 hour or so.
What are the average success rates of surgeries for squint?
The success rate of strabismus surgery or squint surgery depends upon the type of squint. India’s renowned eye care provider Centre for Sight provides squint eye treatment (cross-eyed treatment).
Does strabismus go away on its own, without external treatment?
Some squints in infants and young children sometimes improve with age. But always consult a paediatric ophthalmologist if you notice squint in your child.
What happens in a strabismus surgery/ squint surgery?
Strabismus surgery aims to improve or reduce squint. In the eye, six muscles control the movement of your eyes. An imbalance between them causes the development of squint. You can get squint correction surgery at Centre for Sight.
Can you cure a squint?
The conditions can be improved, and the adverse effects on vision due to a squint can be reduced with treatment. Squint eye treatment (cross-eyed treatment) should be done at the right time so that it doesn’t hamper the vision of your child.
Can squint be considered a disability?
Squint in itself is not a disability, but if it leads to irreparable vision damage, which can become a disability. Squint surgery or strabismus surgery is the last resort to treat the eye condition if all other techniques fail. Hence, an early restoration of eye alignment, in childhood is desirable.
If untreated, can a squint get worse?
Yes, a squint can get worse and be permanently damaging if it is not treated correctly. Contact Centre for Sight for the best squint treatment.
What is the squint eye treatment/ cross-eyed treatment?
Treatment for squint eyes include:
● Use of spectacles
● Practising squint eye exercises
● Squint eye surgery; every method depends upon the age of the patient and causes of squint.
Can one get squint eye through heredity?
Yes, some types of squint are hereditary. But that is not always the case. Reach Centre for Sight if you detect any symptoms in your child for timely squint correction.
What causes squint or strabismus?
The exact cause of strabismus is unknown. A loss of coordination between the muscles of both the eyes leads to some misalignment. Sometimes, hypermetropia or an eye muscle paralysis may lead to the deviation of the eye. Some other eye disease may also result in poor vision, causing eyes to deviate. Therefore, a thorough eye checkup in children is always suggested. Strabismus surgery done at the right time can save your child’s eye from getting worse.
What are the options for the treatment of squint eyes?
● Glasses
● Patching therapy
● Medications
● Surgery
Treatment of squint typically requires eye muscle surgery. However, some patients may need prisms, glasses, medications. In rare cases, it is best left untreated. The correct way to know whether the straightening of the eyes is possible is to undergo a comprehensive eye exam. The paediatric eye specialist recommends strabismus surgery, depending on the severity of the case.
Are there any complications of squint surgery?
Like any other surgery, squint surgery or strabismus surgery is not without complications. Though complications are rare, squint correction surgery might include infection of the eyeball (endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment.
How is the squint surgery performed?
Squint surgery is performed under local or general anaesthesia. It depends upon the age and complexity of squint. Squint surgery for children requires a lot of precision and care. Squint surgery involves either weakening the muscle by a procedure called recession (where it is inserted at a point behind the original insertion) or strengthening it by resection (shortening the muscle-tendon length) so that it becomes taut.
Is there a chance of recurrence after squint surgery?
There is a slight chance of under-correction or overcorrection while performing squint surgery. In those cases, the recurrence of squint is possible. However, if the surgery is done after proper evaluation and by the deft hands of experts, this chance is reduced.
How to know if my baby has a squint eye?
Consult an eye specialist for kids if you notice that your baby does not look straight.
Is squinting common in babies?
It is normal in the newborns eyes to wander during the first few weeks of birth. A babys eyes start to straighten when he/she is 4 to 6 months old. If one or both the eyes still moves inwards, outwards, up or down, its probably due to squinting. Consult an eye specialist for kids immediately.
