Hospital-Based Orthoptic Services at The Children’s Hospital
from Practice Update, Fall 2004
“Holding a child’s attention for an eye examination can be a creative
endeavor,” continues Lauren Pendarvis. “You need to get fairly
inventive at times. Specialized training in pediatrics prepares orthoptists
not only for clinical evaluation, but for the exam room experience of
easily distracted children and concerned parents.”
The pediatric ophthalmology program at The Children’s Hospital continues to expand. Last October, Lauren Pendarvis, a board-certified orthoptist, joined The Children’s Hospital Eye Clinic staff. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of amblyopia and defects in ocular motility and binocular vision, Lauren, who works closely with staff ophthalmologists, provides the region’s only hospital-based orthoptic services in the region.
Ms. Pendarvis explains, “The advantage of diagnosing and treating eye misalignments and vision problems in a hospital setting are numerous. The access to a broad range of medical disciplines enhances our ability to diagnose and treat. The etiology of some motility problems in kids is eye muscle weakness, which can be corrected or improved with special exercises. Glasses or patching can also be used to correct ocular misalignments and amblyopia. However, when the problem is neurological or needs surgical correction, we have the expertise on site to provide extended care.”
“Holding a child’s attention for an eye examination can be a creative endeavor,” continues Lauren Pendarvis. “You need to get fairly inventive at times. Specialized training in pediatrics prepares orthoptists not only for clinical evaluation, but for the exam room experience of easily distracted children and concerned parents. Because we treat kids, day in and day out, we know how to get and keep their attention during eye exams and how to put nervous parents at ease.”
Diagnosis of eye problems in children is not an easy task. Even parents, familiar with their child’s behavior and developmental skills, miss subtle signs of eye problems. Because early detection can make a critical difference in a child’s vision, a child suspected of having amblyopia, strabismus or a refractive error should be seen by a trained pediatric ophthalmologist or orthoptists as soon as possible.
Orthoptic services at Children’s provides basic services such as testing visual acuity on children of all ages, monitoring amblyopia therapy, and checking eyeglass prescriptions, as well as more complicated procedures, such as measuring strabismus and assessing binocular vision. An orthoptist also aids in contact lens dispensing for children born with cataracts, following cataract excision.
Education is integral to orthoptic services. The orthoptist can serve as an important adjunct in the education of the ophthalmology residents rotating through pediatrics. “The opportunity to see a broad spectrum of pathologies increases our expertise in identifying and treating eye problems and serves as an educational forum for residents and fellows. Additionally, we provide one-on-one teaching for parents and patients,” says Pendarvis. “Successful treatment depends on the interest and involvement of the parents. Making parents and providers partners in treatment helps assure compliance and the best outcomes.”
