What is Pediatric Ophthalmology and Squint?

Paediatric Ophthalmology and Squint has now been recognised as a distinct speciality in ophthlamology by Government of India, vision 2020 and various leading eye care organisation. Childhood blindness refers to a group of diseases and conditions occurring in childhood or early adolescence, which, if left untreated, result in blindness or severe visual impairment that are likely to be untreatable later in life.

What are the causes of childhood blindness?

The major causes of blindness in children vary widely from region to region, being largely determined by socioeconomic development, and the availability of primary health care and eye care services. Refractive errors leading to amblyopia or even otherwise are most common and easily treatable paediatric eye disorders. Corneal scarring from measles, vitamin A deficiency, the use of harmful traditional eye remedies, ophthalmia neonatorum, and rubella cataract are the major causes in low-income countries.

In low-income countries with high under-5 mortality rates, the prevalence may be as high as 1.5 per 1000 children. Using this correlation to estimate the prevalence of blindness in children, the number of blind children in the world is approximately 1.4 million. Early treatment of cataract and glaucoma can be beneficial and may help them to salvage whatever vision one can. Squint in children can lead to amblyopia which is irreversible loss of vision in one eye. The chances of mortality and trauma to such patients is high.

Who is a Paediatric ophthlamoiogist and squint specialist?

A Paediatric ophthalmologist and squint specialist is an ophthlamoiogist who has completed training in paediatric ophthlamology and strabismus.lt is duty and responsibility of a pediatric ophthalmologist to treat and guide children and parents about various eye disorders. Our institute now has a separate well equipped paediatric eye care unit with a well trained Paedaitric Ophthlamoiogist and adult Squint Specialist.sing a bladeless, computer-controlled refractive cataract laserto perform several of the most critical steps of cataract surgery.

Orthoptics section/ Ocular motility clinic

We also announce the starting of orthoptic section or ocular motility clinic. This is subspecialty of squint in ophthlamology. Orthoptics primarily deals with the ocular motility problems and exercises to correct the same. New computerized equipment for various ocular exercises have been established.

Our role...

We plan to develop paediatric eye care services in the city. The causes of childhood blindness, amenable to prevention and treatment, receive attention, not only because there are interventions available to handle these conditions, but also devastating consequences if not addressed. We plan to deal with all sort of neuroophthalmological problems. Our dreams are big and we ask for your help to make this dream of eradicating childhood blindness and eye problems a reality.

Equipment available in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular motility clinic.

• Well equipped examination suits: 6 meter lane (2 separate setups)
• Pediatric vision screening cards:
  • Single
  • Single
• Opt kinetic nystgamus flag
• Synophtophore with Hadinger brushes
• Computer orthoptics programme for orthoptic exercises
• Non contact hand held tonometer for children
• Hand held slit lamp
• Hess chart for incomitant squint
• RAF ruler
• Prism bars/ Loose prisms
• Occluders/ Fixation targets/ Kay targets
• Maddox Rod/ with occluder
• Spielman's occluder/ red filter occluder
• TNO test for steroacuity
• Chiroscope
• Ultrasound A and B scan
• Digital ophthlamic photography
• Digital image archival and retrieval system

Surgical and Therapeutic services.

• Paediatric Cataract
  • With IOL implantation (Phaco Legacy)
  • Pediatric Cataract with posterior capsulorrhexis with and without IOL implantation


• Squint surgeries
  • Sutureless squint surgeries (no suture on conjunctiva)
  • Horizontal muscle surgeries
  • Vertical muscle surgeries including oblique muscle surgeries
  • Muscle tranposition/ displacements/ Knapp's/Jensen's surgeries
  • Adjustable/ Semi adjustable procedures for adult squints
  • Surgery for restrictive squints like Duane's & Brown's syndrome
  • 1Nystgamus surgeries including Anderson Kestenbaum, horizontal tenotomies


• Paediatric Glaucoma surgeries
  • Trabeculotomy with trabeculectomy
  • MMC (Mitomycin) augmented Trab


• Allied Paediatric keratoplasty services


• Allied paediatric oculoplastic surgeries
  • Congenital ptosis surgery
  • Congenital lid anomalies including blepharophimosis, congenital lidcolobomas


• Neurophthalmological Setup
  • Ocular motor palsies
  • Management of double vision


• Amblyopia management


• Paediatric Neurophthalmology
  • Hypoxic ischemic encephalypathy/ Periventircular leucomalacia children
  • Ocular motor apraxia
  • Children with nystagmus


• Orthoptics Exercises
  • Computer based orthoptic exercises
  • Exercises for convergence insufficiency
  • Anti suppression exercises both on chiroscope and computer orthoptics programme/ Bar reading
  • Active vision therapy
  • Exercises on synophtophore