GLAUCOMA DIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT

Glaucoma often referred to, as silent thief of sight is usually a-symptomatic till the advanced stages of the disease. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent progression of the disease and blindness. Accurate assessment of Intraocular pressure (Applanation tonometry & tonopen) automated perimetry (using Humphrey 750i) and evaluation of the optic nerve head using 90D lens is essential for diagnosis of glaucoma. Management may include medical therapy with or without surgical intervention. Although glaucoma is usually seen in people over the age of 40, it can also affect newborn infants, children and young adults.

PEDIATRIC EYE DISORDERS

Common eye disorders affecting children include uncorrected refractive errors, squinting of eyes, cataract and corneal scarring. All these conditions if not attended to can result in amblyopia (lazy eye). Visual assessment in children is critical and refractive errors need to be corrected immediately with glasses or contact lenses. Surgical intervention is necessary to correct squint, cataract and corneal opacities. Pediatric cataract surgery is complicated and different from adult cataract surgery, therefore it is performed by well-trained surgeons, to ensure good visual out come.

Patching of the eye is required either immediately after surgery or sometimes prior to surgery for management of amblyopia. A frequent visit to the eye clinic is necessary to assess visual improvement and modify patching regimen.

Pediatric eye disorders often require a team approach ophthalmologists, pediatricians, anesthetist and optometrist often have to work together to successfully manage the pediatric patent with eye disorder.