Paediatric Ophthalmology
Specialist eye care for Babies, Children and Young People
Children’s eyes and vision continue to develop throughout childhood, and eye problems in children can be very different from those seen in adults.
Miss Shalaka Sobti provides specialist ophthalmic assessment and care for babies, children and young people, with an approach designed to make appointments as comfortable and reassuring as possible for both children and their families.
A Child-Centred Approach
An eye examination can feel unfamiliar to a child, particularly at a first appointment. The assessment is therefore adapted to the child’s age, development and ability to cooperate.
Some children may require eye drops to dilate the pupils so that the eyes can be examined fully and an accurate glasses prescription can be determined.
Where appropriate, Miss Sobti works alongside orthoptists, optometrists and other specialists to provide coordinated care.
Supporting Parents as well as Children
Understanding what is happening with your child’s vision can be worrying, particularly when treatment or surgery is being considered.
Miss Sobti places particular emphasis on explaining the diagnosis clearly, discussing the available options and giving parents the opportunity to ask questions. Where ongoing treatment is required, the aim is to develop a plan that is appropriate for the child and practical for the family.
Conditions Assessed and Treated
Children may be referred for a wide range of reasons, from concerns noticed by parents or during vision screening to more complex eye conditions requiring specialist assessment.
Miss Sobti’s paediatric ophthalmology practice includes the assessment and management of conditions such as:
- squint (strabismus) and disorders of eye movement
- amblyopia (lazy eye)
- reduced or unequal vision
- childhood refractive problems
- double vision and abnormal head postures
- Itchy and red eyes
- watery eyes and tear-duct problems
- eyelid and eyebrow lumps and bumps
- visual concerns associated with neurological or developmental conditions
- developmental eye conditions associated with prematurity