Pediatric ophthalmologists are medical doctors (M.D.'s) who train in diseases and surgery of the eye after finishing medical school by completing a 3 year residency in Ophthalmology. Then they do further training in the diagnosis, treatment and surgery of eye disorders that are unique to children during a 1 year post-graduate Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology.

Not at all. A child's eye is not just a smaller version of an adult's eye. The child's visual system is not fully developed or mature until the age of eight or nine years. Because of the immaturity of the visual system, disorders that have little or no affect on an adult may cause severe visual loss in a child if not detected and treated early in life.

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Strabismus is a condition where the eyes are crossed (in, out, up or down). Strabismus disrupts binocular vision which is the ability to use both eyes together and affects depth perception. In addition, it affects the appearance of the child and their self image. Strabismus can sometimes be corrected with glasses and/or patching of one eye. Sometimes surgery may be necessary. Pediatric ophthalmologists are specially trained to detect and treat strabismus in both children and adults.

We are fortunate to have Dr. Deborah M. Costakos, a fellowship trained Pediatric Ophthalmologist, right here in Ozaukee County to see to the needs of your children. She joined Dr. Martha Jay and Dr. Mark German at Lakeshore Eye Care Professionals in 2004.

Good vision results from consistent stimulation of the visual system with clear images from both eyes before visual maturity. A child may sustain permanent vision loss if there is an undiagnosed need for glasses or something more serious such as a cataract, tumor or other anatomical abnormality. Even if the problem with only one eye goes uncorrected, the child may never be able to see well out of that eye or may develop strabismus (a wandering eye - see above).