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Paediatric Ophthalmology
Paediatric ophthalmology focuses on the diagnosis and management of eye conditions in infants, children, and adolescents, where early detection is especially important as vision continues to develop throughout childhood. Common conditions include strabismus (eye misalignment), amblyopia or “lazy eye” (reduced vision due to improper visual development), refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, as well as more complex conditions like congenital cataracts, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and paediatric glaucoma.
Children may not always be able to communicate vision problems clearly, so signs such as squinting, eye rubbing, poor eye coordination, or delayed visual responses should not be overlooked. Comprehensive eye examinations using child-friendly techniques and specialised equipment are essential for accurate diagnosis.
Treatment varies depending on the condition and may include prescription glasses, eye patching or atropine therapy for amblyopia, vision therapy, or surgical intervention when necessary. Timely and appropriate management is crucial not only to correct vision but also to support normal visual development, learning, and overall quality of life as the child grows.
Meet Our Specialists
Dr Sunder Ramasamy
Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Kuching
Dr Norhafizah Hamzah
Kuala Lumpur
Dr Norazah Abdul Rahman
Kuala Lumpur
Ms Melanie Yeoh
Kuala Lumpur
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Newborns are routinely screened at birth, but children should have their first comprehensive eye examination by a paediatric eye specialist between 3 and 5 years old, or earlier if parents notice signs like crossed eyes, frequent eye rubbing, head tilting, or sitting too close to screens.
No, children do not outgrow a true squint (strabismus). While temporary eye crossing is common in infants under 4 months old, persistent misalignment requires evaluation by a paediatric ophthalmologist. Early treatment with glasses, patching, or eye muscle surgery is essential to prevent permanent vision loss or lazy eye.
Medically necessary paediatric treatments—such as strabismus surgery, congenital cataract removal, or treatment for eye infections and trauma—are generally covered by major medical insurance policies. Routine vision screenings, corrective prescription glasses, and preventive myopia management (e.g., orthokeratology lenses) are typically out-of-pocket expenses. OasisEye Specialists accepts various panel insurance providers—our staff can verify coverage prior to your visit.
- Squint (Strabismus): A physical misalignment of the eyes where one eye turns inward, outward, upward, or downward.
- Lazy Eye (Amblyopia): A neurodevelopmental condition where the brain favors one eye because the other has poor visual focus or alignment, leading to reduced vision in the weaker eye. Uncorrected squints are a leading cause of lazy eye.
Lazy eye is treated by forcing the brain to use the weaker eye while visual pathways are still developing (ideally before age 7–8). Common treatments include:
- Prescription Glasses: Corrects underlying refractive errors (astigmatism, farsightedness, or nearsightedness).
- Eye Patching: Covering the stronger eye for a set number of hours daily.
- Atropine Eye Drops: Temporarily blurring vision in the stronger eye to encourage use of the weaker eye.
Paediatric eye specialists manage progressive myopia using evidence-based control methods, including:
- Low-Concentration Atropine Eye Drops: Daily prescription drops proven to slow eyeball elongation.
- Myopia-Control Spectacle Lenses: Specialized spectacle lenses designed to reduce peripheral visual blur.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): Overnight rigid contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea.
- Lifestyle Changes: Encouraging at least 2 hours of daily outdoor play and limiting continuous close-up screen time.
A paediatric eye exam is tailored to be child-friendly and painless. Depending on the child’s age, it includes:
- Visual Acuity Testing: Using picture charts, symbols, or tracking lights instead of standard letters.
- Eye Alignment & Motility Tests: Checking for squints or eye muscle imbalances.
- Cycloplegic Refraction: Using gentle, relaxing eye drops to temporarily widen the pupil and relax focusing muscles for an accurate prescription reading.
- Ocular Health Assessment: Examining internal eye structures to rule out congenital conditions.
Yes, paediatric strabismus surgery is a safe, routinely performed day-care procedure. Done under general anesthesia, the specialist adjusts the position or tension of the extraocular muscles responsible for eye movement to realign the eyes, improving both depth perception and cosmetic appearance.