Children’s ophthalmology

Children’s (paediatric) ophthalmology service cares for children with eye and visual problems from common disorders to more severe conditions which can cause lifelong poor vision.

We see children with eye and visual problems which range from milder, common disorders such as:

• Squint – when one eye is not aligned with the other

• Lazy eye – when the vision in one eye is reduced because the eye has had a blurred image during childhood and the normal connections have not been made between eye and brain.

To more severe conditions which can lead to lifelong poor vision, such as:

• Cataract, glaucoma

• Retinal detachment (particularly as a result of premature birth)

• Eye tumours.

The service is led by consultants but is delivered by a range of staff including Orthoptists and dedicated Paediatric Nurses.