Ophthalmology Department

A child's vision develops from the first months of life. Sometimes parents notice a problem right away — the child squints, one eye "wanders", the eye waters often, or the baby has trouble fixing their gaze. But many eye diseases go unnoticed for a long time and only show up once vision has already started to decline.

At the Ophthalmology Department of the Children's National Medical Center, we diagnose, treat and operate on eye diseases in children — from newborns to teenagers. Our goal is not just to make a diagnosis, but to help the child preserve and develop their vision, using modern technology and a team approach.

When should you take your child to an ophthalmologist?

We recommend seeing a doctor if you notice that:

• the child squints or holds objects too close to their eyes
• one eye drifts to the side
• the child complains of headaches or quickly tired eyes
• there is watering, redness or sensitivity to light
• the child has trouble seeing far away or up close
• there have been eye injuries
• the child was born prematurely
• there are hereditary eye diseases in the family

It is especially important not to delay an examination for premature babies, as some conditions can develop quickly and without obvious symptoms.

What conditions do we treat?

Our specialists help children with a variety of eye diseases, including:

• congenital and acquired eye diseases
• strabismus
• cataracts
• glaucoma
• retinal diseases
• disorders of the vitreous body
• consequences of injuries
• congenital anomalies of the eye's structure

The department provides both conservative treatment and high-tech surgery.

Modern eye surgery for children

Not all eye diseases can be treated with drops or glasses. In some cases, a child needs surgery — and this is where the doctors' experience and equipment matter most.

Our Center performs:

• cataract surgery — removal of the clouded lens and implantation of an artificial lens
• glaucoma treatment — operations aimed at lowering intraocular pressure and preserving vision
• vitreoretinal surgery — high-tech operations on the retina and vitreous body for complex eye diseases
• strabismus correction — surgical treatment that helps restore the correct position of the eyes and improve the quality of vision
• oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery — care for children with congenital anomalies, consequences of injuries and other complex conditions

A unique specialty — care for premature babies

One of the department's important areas of work is the diagnosis and surgical treatment of retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that can lead to severe vision loss.

The Children's National Medical Center is the only center in Central Asia that provides surgical treatment for advanced stages of retinopathy of prematurity. This is especially important for families whose child was born prematurely and needs specialized follow-up.

A team approach — when doctors work together

Eye diseases in children often require the involvement of several specialists.

When indicated, pediatricians, neurologists, geneticists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and other specialists of the Center take part in the child's treatment. This approach helps ensure the cause of the problem is not missed and the safest treatment strategy is chosen.

What happens at the appointment?

The examination begins with a consultation with an ophthalmologist and an assessment of the child's vision.

If needed, comprehensive diagnostics are carried out at the Center, after which the doctor:

• clarifies the diagnosis
• convenes a specialist case conference if necessary
• selects an individual treatment plan
• determines whether surgery is needed
• gives recommendations for follow-up and recovery

Why do parents choose our Center?

The Ophthalmology Department of the Children's National Medical Center offers:

• more than 3,000 consultations for children a year
• more than 1,000 operations annually
• a team of specialists with international training and placements
• modern ophthalmic surgery
• expert-class equipment, including the Bausch & Lomb Stellaris system (USA) for complex retinal surgery
• the opportunity to complete diagnostics and treatment in one place
• care for children from the first days of life

We understand how worrying it is for parents to hear a diagnosis related to their child's vision. That is why at our Center we try to explain everything in plain language, never leave parents alone with their questions, and walk the path together — from diagnosis to restored vision.

To learn more, call our contact center: +998 95 341 00 03