Vision Center

If your child has an issue with their eyesight, getting specialized and compassionate care can improve their health, comfort and confidence. At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, we have a unique understanding of childhood vision and development.

We are one of the country’s leading and largest pediatric ophthalmology programs. Our in-depth knowledge and experience allow us to manage and correct even the most complex childhood eye conditions. We partner with parents and caregivers to ensure the care we provide is the best choice for your child and your family.

Vision Center: Why Choose Us

Eye diseases in children require specialized treatment. As part of a premier children’s hospital, the Vision Center at CHLA provides comprehensive care for every child.

Your child benefits from:

• Advanced expertise: Our team offers leading-edge care for virtually every pediatric eye condition. We diagnose and treat complex vision issues, including optic nerve hypoplasia and other eye birth defects. Many of our ophthalmologists subspecialize in specific eye disorders, giving them a deeper understanding of how to manage these conditions.
• Compassionate team: Every member of our team specializes in treating children. We engage children in age-appropriate ways to provide the most positive experience possible.
• Multidisciplinary approach: Our expert ophthalmologists understand that vision impacts other areas of the body. They work with other CHLA providers, such as those specializing in endocrinology, neurology, rheumatology and behavioral health, to ensure your child receives comprehensive care.
• Precise diagnosis: We rely on in-house pathologists, orthoptists (eye movement specialists) and innovative diagnostic tests to provide a quick and accurate diagnosis. Our expertise and attention to detail allow us to personalize treatment for your child.
• Extensive treatment options: We offer all types of surgical and nonsurgical eye treatments to meet your child’s needs. CHLA is one of a limited number of centers delivering FDA-approved gene therapy treatment to improve the eyesight of children with inherited retinal diseases.
• Distinguished research: Our robust research program establishes our ophthalmologists as global leaders in eye gene therapy, retinoblastoma (eye cancer) and neuro-ophthalmology. Our findings lead to an advanced understanding of complex eye conditions that guide our patient care.
• Coordinated care and family support: We offer patient and family resources to help you navigate your child’s vision impairment and care. For families traveling from a distance, we work to schedule appointments together and partner with your local pediatric ophthalmologist to limit travel time.

Pediatric Ophthalmology Programs and Services

Our programs connect you with dedicated ophthalmologists who have subspecialized experience. They can handle any childhood vision problems. We provide care for people of all ages, from infancy to adulthood.

Our programs and services include:

• Cornea and Glaucoma Program
• Eye Movement (Strabismus) Program
• Retina Program
• Childhood Eye Cancer (Retinoblastoma) Program
• Vision Development Program (Neuro-Ophthalmology)

Renowned Expertise

CHLA sets the bar high with its specialized pediatric care. Our recognitions include:

• One of the top 10 children’s hospital in the nation and No. 1 in California and the Pacific region (tied) according to U.S. News & World Report
• Magnet Recognition for excellence in nursing care

Our leadership extends far beyond our campus. Our ophthalmologists teach other doctors and surgeons how to treat childhood eye conditions. They teach and lecture internationally, and surgeons from around the world come to observe our cutting edge techniques.

Vision Center “Firsts”

The Vision Center’s researchers and specialists serve as leaders nationally and globally. We were the first to:

• Develop endoscopic retinal surgery
• Establish a telemedicine and telesurgery training program for the country of Armenia
• Provide FDA-approved gene therapy in California to treat retinal disease in children
• Sequence and identify the very first human cancer gene, which is associated with retinoblastoma (eye cancer)
• Use liquid biopsy to diagnose retinoblastoma

Leaders in Research for Childhood Eye Disease

The Vision Center is globally recognized as a leader in pediatric ophthalmology research. At The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, we use a combination of laboratory science and clinical research to look at pediatric eye disease from every angle. Our efforts help us advance our understanding and treatment of childhood eye conditions.

The research we perform directly translates to the care we provide. Your child benefits from our achievements in the lab through innovative treatment and access to clinical trials. Learn more about our ophthalmology research.

Personalized Vision Care for Children

We tailor our services to your child’s age, condition and developmental level. Learn how we diagnose and treat vision problems.

Contact us

To schedule an appointment at the Vision Center, call 323-361-2347.