The following describes eye and vision problems, particularly in children. For specific information regarding your child’s health and treatment options, please contact your Hurley physician or medical professional.

Our ophthalmologists recommend that all children receive a complete eye examination each year.

When it comes to the health of your child’s eyes, regular examinations by an ophthalmologist are the most effective way to spot problems early and to ensure prompt, effective medical attention. An ophthalmologist is a highly trained medical physician who specializes in the care and treatment of the eyes.

Regular eye examinations have many benefits. When a child’s vision problem is diagnosed and treated early, he or she can do better in school and learn more easily, simply because the child can now see what the teacher is writing on the board at the front of the room. When diabetes, glaucoma or hypertension—all of which can affect the health of the eye—are identified early, your child can receive appropriate treatment that can prevent other, more serious health issues throughout the body.

Hurley’s ophthalmologists have extensive experience treating patients with a wide variety of disorders and diseases. Many of the more common conditions we screen for and treat include the following:

• Glaucoma (too much pressure in the eye)
• Diabetes (difficulty controlling blood-sugar levels)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Cataracts (cloudiness in the lens of the eye)
• Macular degeneration
• Dry eye and problems with the tear ducts
• Droopy eyelids
• Amblyopia (sometimes called “lazy eye”)
• Strabismus (when the eyes cross instead of looking straight ahead)
• Detached retina and other retinal problems
• Injuries to the eye
• Cancer

Treatment options

Depending upon the diagnosis, our ophthalmologists may suggest one of several treatment options. In some cases, eyeglasses or contact lenses can correct a simple vision problem. In other cases, such as glaucoma and diabetes, medication or laser treatment may help manage the disease and keep it from getting worse over time. For cataracts and more serious or structural problems, surgery may be the best option.

Our ophthalmologists are experienced surgeons who use the most modern technologies, including laser surgery, to perform operations that correct problems and promote faster recovery, while minimizing the amount of pain experienced by the patient. The majority of our procedures can be done on an outpatient basis and do not require an overnight stay at the hospital.

A team approach

We work closely with primary care physicians to ensure that patients receive appropriate education about their health and medical conditions. When a patient has a more complex medical problem, we work closely with other physicians at Hurley Medical Center to ensure that the patient receives complete, comprehensive treatment. We follow a patient- and family-centered care model in order to ensure that the people we see are given complete information about their health, medical issues, treatment options and follow-up care.