Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

The Pediatric Ophthalmology Department at Sankara Nethralaya is a highly specialized, niche and advanced eye care facility offering expert diagnosis and treatment for the entire gamut of ophthalmic problems in children belonging to the age groups from ‘just born’ to ‘teens’ as well as for adults with strabismus. The department is a pioneer in treating children and was started as an exclusive facility at a time when eye care was largely dispensed to this delicate age group in a general eye care ward, alongside treatment offered to adults. It was a deep understanding that ophthalmic issues in children need different diagnostic/ treatment modalities and protocols and eye care experts specifically trained in treating this segment and a deep concern in addressing the disturbingly high prevalence of childhood vision impairments in the country, that led to the inception of this department. Today the department is a preferred treatment destination for children not only from different parts of India but also from the neighbouring countries. The capability and expertise of the department is evident by the fact that it was chosen as a preferred partner by ORBIS to screen a large number of children in rural parts of India as part of its goal towards eliminating childhood blindness globally, being accorded a pride of place in the ‘Limca book of records’ for screening the highest number of school children and the services of a senior consultant from the department being sought by ORBIS International the renowned non-profit and NGO dedicated to saving sight worldwide by engaging in prevention of blindness in developing countries through hands on training, public health education, advocacy and local partnerships to educate eye care providers in China. Around 25,000 pediatric patients are examined and treated annually in Sankara Nethralaya, of which an average of 19,000 pediatric patients are seen by consultants at the pediatric ophthalmology department. Around 450 pediatric cataract and 700 squint surgeries were performed in the department in year 2017 alone.