Paediatric Ophthalmology

Paediatric Ophthalmology is an area of Ophthalmology dedicated to the screening, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases in children and adolescents.

At birth, our vision has not yet reached its maximum capacity, i.e. the visual system (eyes, optic pathways and visual cortex) is present but not sufficiently developed to segment and process the complete visual information. From birth and until the first 10 years of life, it is fundamental that the visual stimulus is as perfect as possible, so that not only a normal visual development occurs, but also the normal development of the central nervous system. 

Paediatric Ophthalmology studies the maturation of the visual system. This will have a critical period of development (generally until 4-6 years of age) and begins with the information received by our eyes, through light stimuli, developing the ability to perceive movement, fixation, orientation, colour, fusion, articulation of the eyes together and three-dimensional perception. After this critical period, it is neither possible nor expected to see improvements in the child's vision.

In paediatric ophthalmology, it is important to screen for and identify potential changes such as, refractive errorsamblyopias strabismus and muscular alterations, cataracts cataracts, retinopathy of prematurity, among others. Having said this, during the first years of life, it is necessary to pay attention to some signs and symptoms, more specifically:

O sight test should be adapted according to the age and collaboration of the child.

In paediatric Ophthalmology it may be necessary to carry out qualitative tests or complementary examinations that allow an objective evaluation.

As it is essential to ensure a good development of binocular vision in the first years of life, the orthoptic assessment with synoptophore turns out to be an examination that is closely linked to paediatric ophthalmology.

In a paediatric ophthalmology consultation, the anterior segment and the ocular fundus are observed and as such, whenever there are associated pathologies, although this is less common, the doctor may advise tests such as retinography, a corneal topography or computerised static perimetry.

Assessments in Paediatric Ophthalmology must be carried out at "key ages", as it is from birth to school age that some diseases that can lead to decreased vision, or in the last case, blindness, can be prevented, avoided and treated. It is important that, at the beginning of schooling, the child meets the best visual conditions, in order to achieve a correct visual development.

Treatment at this age, depending on the diagnosis, may involve correcting refractive errors by adapting optical correction and ensuring the correct development of binocular vision through assessment and treatment of orthoptics.

Prof. Dr. Eduardo Silva