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Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology focuses on the medical and surgical treatment of eye conditions. An ophthalmologist is able to diagnose and treat eye disorders that may affect your vision and can also perform regular eye exams.

Pediatric ophthalmologists in Denver

When your child gets the vision correction they need, it can have a lifelong positive impact.

Early detection and treatment are important when caring for your child’s eye disorder. The board-certified pediatric ophthalmologists at HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children's at Presbyterian St. Luke's will work with you and your child to create a treatment plan to help ensure the health of your child’s eyes.

Expert advice, available 24/7

Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.

Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.

Pediatric eye conditions we treat

Our skilled pediatric ophthalmologists provide eye care for a wide range of disorders and conditions, including:

  • Astigmatism
  • Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
  • Cataracts (cloudy lenses)
  • Cellulitis (eye infection)
  • Chalazion (lump in tear gland )
  • Chemical burns of the eye
  • Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  • Corneal abrasions (scratched eye)
  • Dacryostenosis (blocked tear duct)
  • Ecchymosis (bruising or black eye)
  • Eyelid lacerations (cuts)
  • Foreign bodies in the eye
  • Fractures of the orbit
  • Glaucoma
  • Hordeolum (painful bump on eyelid)
  • Hordeolum (stye)
  • Hyperopia (farsightedness)
  • hyphema (blood in the eye)
  • Keratitis (inflammation near the cornea)
  • Myopia (nearsightedness)
  • Refractive errors
  • Retinoblastoma (form of eye cancer)
  • Retinopathy of prematurity
  • Strabismus (crossed-eyes)

Our pediatric eye care program

Our team is specially trained in ophthalmology and pediatric care. We can offer the right treatment to your child while minimizing the discomfort and anxiety that can come with a visit to the doctor.

Pediatric diagnostic eye exams

Your child’s vision develops up until eight or nine years old. After that age, there are fewer options to change their vision development. Regular eye exams for your child are critical to maintaining healthy eyes. Eye exams are often one of the only ways to know whether there is an issue with your child’s sight.

An eye exam can diagnose anything from eye infections to eye misalignment, and getting the proper treatment in a timely manner could help prevent childhood vision loss.

If your child fails their eye exam, it could also be a result of less common issues in children, such as cataracts, glaucoma or even a tumor in the eye or brain. If left untreated, these issues could lead to serious eye problems.


Treatment for pediatric eye conditions

Once your pediatric ophthalmologist has provided a diagnosis, a treatment plan will be created that considers your child’s condition, age, tolerance of treatments and your preferences. The plan may include one or more of the following eye treatments:

  • Having your child wash hands frequently and face daily
  • Having your child avoid rubbing the eyes
  • Antibiotic ointments for the eyes
  • Blind or decreased vision adaptation training
  • Bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
  • Chemotherapy or radiation therapy for eye cancer
  • Cryotherapy (a freezing process)
  • Glasses or contact lenses
  • Eye exercises
  • Eye patch over a strong eye to improve a weak eye
  • Laser therapy or photocoagulation (to create small scars to prevent retinal detachment)
  • Massaging (or “milking”) a blocked tear duct several times a day
  • Medications, such as antibiotics
  • Thermal therapy

Eye surgery we perform

Should your child need surgery to treat their eye conditions, our eye surgeons can perform a wide range of procedures, including:

  • Enucleation
  • Trabeculotomy and goniotomy
  • Trabeculectomy
  • Iridotomy
  • Cyclophotocoagulation

Signs of eye problems in children

Sometimes, your child’s vision troubles can be fixed with a pair of glasses. However, in other cases, your child may need additional care.

Common eye and vision concerns

One sign your child may need to see a pediatric eye specialist is if they fail a school eye exam. Other signs your child may be experiencing vision problems include:

  • Eye rubbing or blinking
  • Frequent headaches
  • Holding books or other reading objects close to the face
  • Frequently losing his or her place while reading
  • Difficulty remembering what he or she just read
  • Complaints of seeing double

Our Ophthalmology Locations