Pediatric Ophthalmologist

If there’s anything that kids do exceptionally well, it’s growing. After all, kids’ muscles, bones, and brains keep on swelling well into adolescence — and so do their eyes.

In fact, children’s eyes typically grow until they’re 15 or 16 years old, while their vision continues developing until age nine. If they’re caught early, therefore, eye problems often can be corrected, allowing children to grow out of their poor vision.

A Pediatric Ophthalmologist is a sort of ocular Navigator: When children’s eyes wander — sometimes literally — it’s a Pediatric Ophthalmologist’s job to correct their course so they function and develop correctly.

A Doctor who specializes in kids and eyes, a Pediatric Ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats vision problems in children. For example: amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” for which the treatment is glasses, patching, or dilating drops; nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, for which the treatment is glasses or contacts; infections, such as conjunctivitis, for which the treatment is eye drops, ointments, or antibiotics; and other miscellaneous conditions, like glaucoma, misaligned eyes, blocked tear ducts, or cataracts, for which the standard treatment is surgery.

No matter the condition, your job entails consulting with patients; conducting eye exams; performing eye surgeries; and prescribing medications, eyeglasses, and contact lenses.

Like a Pediatrician, you understand that children are not just “mini” adults. Because their bodies are still developing, and because they can’t always articulate what’s wrong with them, you devote yourself to making your practice and your care kid-friendly so children can more clearly see their parents, pets, homework, and, of course, favorite Saturday morning cartoons.