Pediatrics Strabismus News

With a better understanding of the pathophysiology of retinopathy of prematurity, management is evolving.

A 15-year-old girl presented to the eye clinic at the New England Eye Center for a second opinion regarding reduced vision in both eyes since infancy.

Retinal vascularization commences at 16 weeks of gestation and finishes around 36 weeks nasally and 40 to 45 weeks temporally. When an infant is born prematurely, retinal vascularization is not yet complete and the infant is predisposed to developing retinopathy of prematurity. The infants most at risk for developing ROP are those born sooner than 30 weeks’ gestational age and less than 1,500 grams. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, along with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, have devised a protocol for screening at-risk infants for ROP.

Soemmering’s ring was first described by D.W. Soemmering and is considered to be a type of regenerating lens substance that has a peripheral disposition and often goes unrecognized unless it is centrally dislocated or the pupil is widely dilated. The incidence of Soemmering’s ring formation is higher in pediatric cases after cataract surgery. Retention of lens fibers between the anterior and posterior capsules is considered to be the possible etiology. The adhesions of the anterior and posterior capsules prevent the exposure of these lens fibers to the aqueous and the surrounding environment, promoting uninhibited growth of lens fibers.

An increase in posterior corneal elevation and irregular astigmatism may contribute to visual disability in patients with childhood glaucoma, according to a study.

The prevalence of clinically significant myopia among middle-income students in China may be almost twice that of lower-income students, according to a study.

The ophthalmology service at Tufts Medical Center was consulted for a “blown pupil” in the right eye of a 2-year-old boy. He was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after falling approximately 15 feet from an unsecured bounce house that was lifted into the air by a gust of wind.

The ophthalmology service at Tufts Medical Center was consulted for a “blown pupil” in the right eye of a 2-year-old boy. He was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after falling approximately 15 feet from an unsecured bounce house that was lifted into the air by a gust of wind.

Children are peculiar because they cannot always express themselves in a manner that adults can understand. For example, a toddler who gets headaches often exhibits this as tantrums or head banging. Similarly, there are times when children have a problem with their ocular surface, and instead of just rubbing their eyes, they will develop unusual eye movements and blinking that can be mistaken for neurological ticks. Sometimes these eye movements, and especially the blinking, can be so exaggerated as to cause great concern to parents.

Age at the time of surgery and visual acuity of the treated eye influence stereopsis outcomes in pediatric patients with unilateral cataracts, according to the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study.