Children with squints and/or vision concerns attend our consultant paediatric ophthalmologist-led clinic in the Children’s Clinic of the Women and Children’s Unit (white reception).
Children with squints and/or vision concerns attend this clinic.
Some general health problems, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, neurofibromatosis, cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome, developmental delay and prematurity, can affect the eyes, and therefore a child with these conditions may be referred to attend for eye screening. The referrals to this clinic can come from a variety of sources such as:
- High street optometrists
- GPs
- Visual screening
- Eye clinic in Outpatients
- Paediatricians
- Audiologists
- Specialist hospitals like Alder Hey
Your child will have their vision tested by the orthoptist and often also have an orthoptic assessment if appropriate. This can involve measurements and testing of squints, eye muscle problems and assessment of binocularity (how well one uses their eyes together, 3D). The orthoptic assessment assists management of your child’s eye care.
The orthoptist may need to put eye drops in to your child’s eyes to enable a full ocular examination.
In some cases, we may discuss with you if surgery might be necessary. The children’s clinic has a paediatric nurse team to pre-assess those children who may need surgery or a general anaesthetic, so you do not have to come again for another visit.
All this is carried out in the children’s clinic with its waiting/play area. Parents can let their children be as noisy and as expressive as they like with all the toys, crafts and play area while they wait for their eye drops to take effect.
