When primary care doctors, regular eye doctors and families have concerns about a child’s eyes, we’re here to help. Our pediatric ophthalmology service is specifically designed and operated for the benefit of all children who have eye health problems. We specialize in the full spectrum of eye care for infants, toddlers, and school-age children. We even see adults referred by their regular eye doctor who have eye muscle problems and double vision. Our service also performs eye examinations for a variety of pediatric systemic conditions that affect vision, such as juvenile arthritis, diabetes, and neurofibromatosis.
The WVU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences also provides statewide outreach care and vision services through the Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program for blind and visually impaired school-aged children in West Virginia, regardless of their ability to pay.
Conditions We Treat
Our pediatric ophthalmology services address many common and complex pediatric vision problems, including:
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Cataracts (infant and pediatric)
- Cellulitis
- Congenital eye problemsapparentat birth
- Crossed or drifting eyes (strabismus)
- Dermoid cysts
- Droopy eyelids
- Genetic/neurological conditions that affect vision
- Glaucoma in infancy and childhood
- Graves’ disease
- Inherited retinal disorders (like retinitis pigmentosa)
- Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear ducts)
- Neuro-ophthalmology disorders
- Nystagmus (uncontrolled, rhythmic eye movements)
- Optic neuritis
- Orbital tumors
- Ptosis (droopy eyelids)
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
- Trauma to the eye
- Uveitis (ocular inflammation)
- Visual pathway tumors and diseases
Treatments and Services
We offer our pediatric patients specialized eye care services, testing, and a vast majority of common surgical procedures, like eye muscle surgery, eyelid and orbital surgery, tear duct probing’s, cataract removal, and trauma surgery. These procedures are typically performed as same-day surgery. WVU Medicine pediatric ophthalmologists perform a variety of screening special testing for infants and children to detect any vision problems early in your child’s development. Depending on your child’s condition, treatment methods may include:
General
- Specialty pediatric eye exams on referral from the pediatrician · Eyeglasses and contact lenses through our Eye Shop · Low vision care through the Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program
- Coordinated care with other specialists your child may also see
Surgical
- Eye muscle surgery
- Goniotomy and trabeculotomy
- Laser photocoagulation
- Oculoplastic reconstructive surgery
- Pediatric cataract removal
- Tear duct surgery