Pediatric Ophthalmology and Optometry

Ochsner Children's pediatric optometrists diagnose vision problems and provide nonsurgical treatments. Our pediatric ophthalmologists diagnose and treat all forms of eye diseases and provide surgical and nonsurgical treatments. At Ochsner, these two types of providers collaborate to provide the full scope of eye care for children.

Our pediatric optometry and ophthalmology team takes a comprehensive approach to treating children’s eye conditions instead of considering them a completely separate part of medical care. We partner with specialists in pediatric neurology, pediatric oncology, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric gastroenterology and more to deliver the comprehensive, well-rounded care our patients need. This approach allows us to care for patients with complex medical needs and patients with special needs and disabilities.

To help us care for patients with special needs, including those who are nonverbal, we use advanced diagnostic tools not found at many other centers in Louisiana and Mississippi. These tools include visual evoked potential testing, which measures optic nerve function. We also offer electroretinography, a test that measures electrical activity in retinal cells.

We pair collaborative, high-tech care with compassion. Support services, such as pediatric social workers and Certified Child Life Specialists, help families navigate the ins and outs of care and put young patients at ease.

Our pediatric optometry and ophthalmology specialists diagnose and treat nearly all medical eye conditions affecting children, including:

• Amblyopia: Amblyopia, or lazy eye, occurs when the brain has trouble processing information from one eye, leading to poor sight in that eye. Vision is stronger in the unaffected eye.

• Congenital eye diseases: Some children are born with eye problems known as congenital eye diseases. These conditions include glaucoma, cataracts and retinopathy of prematurity.

• Conjunctivitis: Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is irritation of an eye tissue called the conjunctiva. This condition typically occurs due to infection or allergies.

• Eye injuries: Common eye injuries include scratches to the cornea, foreign bodies that enter the eye and chemical burns. Eye injuries can occur in a variety of ways, including playing with toys and participating in sports.

• Eye muscle disorders: One of the most common eye muscle disorders is strabismus. This occurs when the muscles that help the eyes focus don’t work in sync.

• Refractive errors: These vision problems include myopia (also known as nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). Another common refractive error is astigmatism, which is abnormal curvature of the eye.

Our pediatric optometrists and ophthalmologists work closely with many specialists to treat eye problems that develop due to other medical conditions. These include Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

The pediatric optometry and ophthalmology team provides the full range of treatments for children’s eye conditions. Our optometrists treat refractive errors and other vision problems using glasses, contact lenses and eye drops, among other treatments. They’re especially focused on early diagnosis and treatment of myopia, which can lead to other eye diseases later in life. Our optometrists can use corneal reshaping lenses and myopia control lenses to treat myopia.

Some children may require eye surgery to treat certain diseases, and that’s where our ophthalmologists come in. In addition to prescribing glasses and contact lenses, our ophthalmologists perform procedures to treat congenital eye diseases, blocked tear ducts, strabismus and droopy eyelids.

"We are thankful to Dr. Shah that we were able to get the cataract removed within a week, so Wyatt is back to playing video games." - Carlita C., mother of pediatric ophthalmology patient

Glasses can improve children’s vision, and that can help them perform better at school and navigate their environment more easily. Common reasons for children to need glasses include correcting refractive errors, straightening crossed eyes and treating amblyopia.

Clues that your child may have an eye condition include eyes that are often red, look crossed or don’t move together. Overproduction of tears may also indicate a problem. Your child may rub his or her eyes, display sensitivity to light, or complain of eye pain or headaches. If your child has difficulty reading or sits too close to the TV, an eye problem may be the cause.

Your child should have an eye exam with an eye specialist, pediatrician or family medicine physician as a newborn, then again between ages 6 months to 12 months. Eye exams should also be performed between 12 and 36 months old and between ages 3 and 5 years old. After age 5, your child’s physician may recommend eye exams annually or every two years. Ochsner Vision Centers provide eye exams for patients of all ages.

Amblyopia, often called lazy eye, happens when one eye develops blurry vision because something disrupts how a child’s eyes are growing. Over time, the brain starts to favor the stronger eye, causing the weaker one to drift out of alignment. It’s the most common vision issue in children. While rare, amblyopia can sometimes affect both eyes at once.

For children under 6 years old, 20/40 vision is considered within normal limits.

Refractive errors affect nearly 20% of children, making them a common vision concern. The most common type is myopia, or nearsightedness. Children with myopia can see objects up close clearly but may have difficulty seeing things farther away.

A child under age 6 with 20/40 visual acuity (sharpness or clarity of vision) meets the American Academy of Pediatrics’ passing criteria. Referral isn’t needed based on visual acuity alone, if there’s no significant difference between the eyes and no other concerning findings.