STRABISMUS SURGERY AND YOUR CHILD'S VISION
Children’s vision can be affected by a wide range of issues from common myopia “nearsightedness” to amblyopia or “lazy eye” to strabismus “cross-eyed.” Strabismus in children is defined as improper alignment of the eyes, either horizontally, vertically or torsionally (twisted), and is caused by muscles not working in sync. For the one in 50 children affected by strabismus, surgery is often the best option to ensure successful development and optimal vision later in life.
Dr. Hamming and Dr. Thompson, pediatric ophthalmologists who have performed successful strabismus surgery on thousands of children, believe the key to strabismus treatment is early detection and correction. Strabismus can be present in infancy or can develop in early childhood and the sooner it’s corrected, the better. Left untreated, strabismus can cause long-term visual impairment. There is a relatively short therapeutic window for eye correction in children. Before the age of nine, a child’s visual system is still in the developmental phase. Correction after age nine can be very difficult. For children diagnosed early, the prognosis for complete recovery from strabismus surgery is excellent. Children are able to recover relatively quickly and their developing brains are flexible enough to accept the surgical muscle changes smoothly.
Dr. Hamming and Dr. Thompson are experienced in and compassionate about the unique challenges of pediatric patients. Working in pediatric ophthalmology and with strabismus cases in particular, we must pay careful attention not only to the needs of the patient, but to the concerns of their parents as well. While young children are typically not aware of the details of strabismus surgery, Dr. Hamming and Dr. Thompson take great care in educating parents and allaying their fears.
Dr. Hamming and Dr. Thompson, pediatric ophthalmologists who have performed successful strabismus surgery on thousands of children, believe the key to strabismus treatment is early detection and correction. Strabismus can be present in infancy or can develop in early childhood and the sooner it’s corrected, the better. Left untreated, strabismus can cause long-term visual impairment. There is a relatively short therapeutic window for eye correction in children. Before the age of nine, a child’s visual system is still in the developmental phase. Correction after age nine can be very difficult. For children diagnosed early, the prognosis for complete recovery from strabismus surgery is excellent. Children are able to recover relatively quickly and their developing brains are flexible enough to accept the surgical muscle changes smoothly.
Dr. Hamming and Dr. Thompson are experienced in and compassionate about the unique challenges of pediatric patients. Working in pediatric ophthalmology and with strabismus cases in particular, we must pay careful attention not only to the needs of the patient, but to the concerns of their parents as well. While young children are typically not aware of the details of strabismus surgery, Dr. Hamming and Dr. Thompson take great care in educating parents and allaying their fears.
