Stony Brook Children's Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology utilizes the latest advanced diagnostic testing and ophthalmic imaging, and provides advanced medical and surgical treatment of eye/vision disorders.
The Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology's state-of-the-art equipment, includes:
- Ocular ultrasound
- Retinal photography
- Optical coherence tomography
- Heidelberg retinal tomography confocal scanner
- Flourescein angiography
- Automated and goldman visual field testing
- Keratometry
- Pachymetry
- Corneal topography
The Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology provides high quality eye care to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye disorders in infants, children, and adolescents, with the ultimate goal of preventing vision loss and protecting the health of the eye. Medical and surgical treatment is available for the following conditions, among others:
- Refractive error (need for glasses)
- Astigmatism
- Farsightedness
- Nearsightedness (including potential treatment with low dose atropine eye drops to slow the progression if indicated)
- Strabismus (eye misalignment or wandering eye)
- Esotropia
- Exotropia
- Hypertropia
- Hypotropia
- Ocular motor cranial nerve palsy
- Pseudostrabismus
- Diplopia (double vision; including potential treatment with prism if indicated)
- Amblyopia (lazy eye with poor vision in one or both eyes)
- Dacryostenosis/Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear duct with tearing issues)
- Pediatric cataract (cloudiness or opacity of the lens)
- Infantile/juvenile glaucoma (high eye pressure)
- Ptosis (droopy lids)
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Corneal abrasion (scratch of the cornea)
- Chalazion/Hordeolum (stye)
- Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
- Infection of the eye and orbit
- Papilledema (swelling of the optic nerve)
- Hemangioma of the eyelid and orbit
- Nystagmus (eye movement disorder)
- Eye conditions related to a history of prematurity (e.g. Retinopathy of Prematurity)
- Surgical treatment of eye disorders and eye misalignment
Infants and children who have failed a vision screening with their pediatrician or the school system are encouraged to seek evaluation with the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology. Many systemic and medical diseases may also affect vision, eye health, and eye alignment. Infants and children with a history of prematurity, certain medical issues, genetic disorders, metabolic disorders, developmental delay, and autism, also routinely obtain eye care in the department. If surgery is required, it typically is performed at Stony Brook’s outpatient Ambulatory Surgery Center. As all pediatric eye surgery uses general anesthesia, we work closely with our pediatric anesthesiologists to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for patients and families. Surgery can also be performed at the main hospital when appropriate.