faq

will my child’s crossed eyes/lazy eye fix on their own or will they grow out of it?

Children will not outgrow truly crossed eyes. A child whose eyes are misaligned (called strabismus) can develop poor vision in one eye (a condition known as amblyopia) because the brain turns off the misaligned or “lazy” eye. The sooner crossed or misaligned eyes are treated, the less likely the child will have permanently impaired vision.

what is a blocked tear duct (nasolacrimal duct obstruction)?

An obstruction of the tear duct will cause tearing or watering of the eye because the tears cannot drain. Symptoms of a blocked tear duct include eyelashes that are stuck together by mucus or a buildup of tears in one or both eyes. The tears trapped within the duct may become infected, causing a painful swelling in the inner corner of the eyelid. In infants, the membrane that causes the obstruction will usually open by six months of age. If this does not occur, your physician will often recommend treatment to open the blockage.

how is a blocked tear duct treated?

Initial treatment involves massaging the area over the affected tear sac (located under the skin between the eye and nose) to force the tears and mucus from the sac, hopefully pushing open the membrane causing the obstruction. In infants, this massage requires the active involvement of the parent, as it must occur frequently. Massage is generally continued until the tearing resolves. Antibiotic drops or ointments may also be prescribed by the physician if there is an infection. It may be necessary to open the tear duct by probing and irrigation. This is most commonly happens between six months and one year of age.

what is a chalazion and how is it treated?

The term chalazion refers to a cystic swelling with chronic inflammation (ongoing swelling) in an eyelid. A gradual enlargement can be felt near the margin of the lid due to the swelling in one of the eyelid oil glands (meibomian). Treatment may involve any one or combinations of the following: antibiotic and/or steroid drops or injections, warm compresses, massage, or expression of the glandular secretions, surgical incision or excision.

what is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)?

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) damages premature babies’ retinas, the layer of light-sensitive cells lining the back of the eye. ROP usually occurs in both eyes, though one may be more severely affected.

what is strabismus?

Strabismus refers to misaligned eyes. If the eyes turn inward (crossed), it is called esotropia. If the eyes turn outward (wall-eyed), it is called exotropia. One eye can be higher than the other, which is called hypertropia (for the higher eye) or hypotropia (for the lower eye). Strabismus can be subtle, (occurring occasionally), or constant. It can affect one eye only or shift between the eyes.

what are refractive errors?

Refractive errors are a type of vision problem that makes it hard to see clearly. They happen when the shape of your eye keeps light from focusing correctly on your retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye).

Refractive errors are the most common type of vision problem. Below are common types of refractive errors:

• Nearsightedness (myopia) makes far-away objects look blurry
• Farsightedness (hyperopia) makes nearby objects look blurry
• Astigmatism can make far-away and nearby objects look blurry or distorted