Retina Services

Retinal Diseases, Laser Procedures and Surgery

What is Pediatric Retina?

Pediatric retina encompasses the common eye disorders of childhood, such as retinopathy of prematurity.

pediatric retina, premature, babyRetinopathy of prematurity occurs when babies are born prematurely and the blood vessels of the retina inside the eye do not develop properly. This can cause scar tissue and lead to permanent, irreversible vision loss.

Early stages of Retinopathy of Prematurity are treated with the use of Anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) agents.

Laser surgery can also be used to abolish any unusual blood vessels and prevent further vision loss caused by retinopathy of prematurity. More advanced cases occasionally need operating room retinal and vitreous microsurgery.

What are Pediatric Retinal Conditions?

Stationary and progressive pediatric retinal conditions produce an array of symptoms

Stationary retinal conditions are present at birth and vision loss is consistent over time. Progressive conditions are not evident at birth but, throughout time, vision decreases.

What causes Pediatric Retinal Diseases?

Retinal diseases cause symptoms that vary from patient to patient.

children, with, retinal, abnormaltiesChildren with retinal abnormalities may experience symptoms and display behavior such as:

Difficulty reading even with the use of prescription glasses or contact lenses.

Consistently turning ones head to one side in order to see or read.

Poor vision at night.

Sudden or unexplained loss of vision, peripherals or in a particular visual field.

Nystagmus, a rapid, involuntary oscillatory motion of the eyeball.

Photophobia, an abnormal sensitivity to or intolerance of light.

Our physicians also diagnose and treat children with:

Detached Retinas

Ocular Infections
(Most ocular infections are benign, others can be associated with devastating visual consequences. Most patients present with either ocular discharge, visual symptoms or a red or painful eye.)

Hereditary retinal disorders such as:
Colobomapediatric retina, premature, baby
Coloboma is an eye abnormality that occurs before birth. Colobomas are missing pieces of tissue in structures that form the eye.

Retinitis Pigmentosa
RP is an inherited, degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment due to the progressive degeneration of the rod photoreceptor cells in the retina.

Dr. Mavrofrides with one of his young patients.

Stargardt Disease
Or fundus flavimaculatus, is an inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss usually to the point of legal blindness.

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia
ONH is a medical condition arising from the underdevelopment of the optic nerve(s). This condition is the most common congenital optic nerve anomaly. The optic disc appears abnormally small, because not all the optic nerve axons have developed properly.

Our Doctors are also able to identify and diagnose intraocular tumors such as retinoblastoma.