What is unique about a children’s eye examination?
SAMER HAMADA DESCRIBES WHY A CHILDREN’S EYE EXAMINATION IS UNIQUE
Examining children’s eyes is different from examining adult’s eyes. The way that the approach to a child is different.
Normally, we start by asking one of the orthoptist to have a look at your child. They look at the eye movements and assess the level of vision in both eyes. An examination by myself follows this. I do a full assessment looking at all parts of the eye from the front to the back, to make sure no pathology or disease is affecting the eye.
We see the children in an environment which they like, and we make their experience easy and simple, so they love to come to see me again. This is how we build a good rapport with the child. A very important part is educating the parents about their child’s condition and get them on the path with me so we can treat any disease the child experiences.
The eyesight develops in the first 10 years of life.
Therefore, when the child is born, they’re not born with perfect vision. It takes a few months for the vision to mature and start to develop very well, and continues to develop throughout the first few years of life up to 10 years of life.
Now, if the vision is not developing in the way or at the speed it should develop, or if there is what we called prescription or refractive arrow, that means the child needs glasses to see. Then we encourage the parents to help us to get a child into glasses so they can develop good vision.
We need to remember that the development in vision is one aspect of child development. And in fact, the child needs to see well to allow other senses to develop and support the whole well-being of a child.
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About the expert
Mr Samer Hamada | Consultant Ophthalmologist and Corneal Surgeon
MD, MSc, DO (hons), FRCSEd, FRCOphth I am Samer Hamada, founder and consultant ophthalmic surgeon with over 20 years’ experience in ophthalmology. I am a world-renowned specialist in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. I’m not only a leading surgeon but also the only dual fellowship trained in corneal diseases in children from reputable institutions in the UK. At Eye Clinic London I work closely with other consultant ophthalmologists, optometrists and orthoptists to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. Our main aim is to make sure our patients get the safest and best treatments available to them. We put your safety before anything else so you can rest assured that if you choose us you will be in the best and safest hands.
