Cornea and Glaucoma Program

At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, your child’s vision is in capable hands. The ophthalmologists in our Cornea and Glaucoma Program subspecialize in treating childhood glaucoma, cornea problems and pediatric cataracts. They personalize treatment and perform complex procedures when needed to safeguard and restore your child’s eyesight.

Eye issues involving the cornea (front of the eye), cataract (cloudy lens) and glaucoma (increased eye pressure) can be challenging to treat. Treatment and surgery for these conditions often involve more than one concern and multiple parts of the eye. Several specialists may work together to provide comprehensive care for your child.

Pediatric Cornea and Glaucoma Program: Why Choose Us

Your child’s vision is our number one priority at the Vision Center. When you entrust your child’s care to the Cornea and Glaucoma Program, you’ll benefit from:

• Comprehensive treatment: We offer both surgical and nonsurgical eye treatments to meet all your child’s needs. Our patients receive long-term care when a condition, such as glaucoma, requires ongoing management.
• Advanced expertise: We are leaders in pediatric ophthalmology, providing innovative treatments for cataracts, glaucoma and keratoconus that aren’t widely available. Ours is one of the largest pediatric surgical cornea and glaucoma programs in the West. Thanks to this experience, we have the expertise to treat rare and complex conditions.
• Complex surgeries: Our experienced surgeons perform complicated procedures, including corneal transplants, infant cataract surgery and small-incision glaucoma surgery, to improve vision for children of all ages. We are one of the few centers in the country certified to implant a special lens in children too young for traditional lens implants.
• Compassionate care: Every member of the ophthalmology team specializes in children’s care. We adapt our services to your child’s age and developmental level. Our patient and family resources provide support for you and your loved ones.

Expert Treatment for Corneal Conditions, Cataracts and Glaucoma

We treat all conditions involving the cornea, cataracts and glaucoma, including:

• Blepharitis
• Cataracts
• Corneal scars
• Dry eye
• Glaucoma
• Keratoconus
• Peters anomaly
• Traumatic anterior segment abnormalities

We personalize your child’s treatment, using surgery as a last option. We treat conditions with prescription eye drops and eyeglasses whenever possible. We monitor your child’s condition closely. If surgery becomes necessary, we do it at the right time and for the right reasons.

Our specialized treatments include:

Corneal cross linking for keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition that involves progressive weakening and thinning of the cornea—the front, outer layer of your child’s eye. There is no cure for keratoconus, and if left untreated, the cornea can become misshapen or split, causing:

• Blurry vision
• Distorted eyesight
• Light sensitivity
• Swelling and redness

We treat keratoconus in children under general anesthesia with corneal cross linking. This procedure prevents the condition from getting worse by strengthening the cornea using eyedrops and ultraviolet (UV) light.

When done without anesthesia, corneal cross linking can be upsetting for children, making it challenging to deliver the treatment successfully. Our approach is safer and much less traumatic for pediatric patients than traditional cross linking treatment. At the Vision Center, a pediatric anesthesiologist ensures your child is safely asleep during the procedure so we can achieve the best outcome.

Pediatric cataract surgery for all ages

If the lens in your child’s eye is cloudy, they may have cataracts. It can happen at any age and occur in one or both eyes. The clouding, which may cover all or part of the lens, can cause:

• Blurry vision
• Distorted images
• Blindness

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition, but your child may require surgery to replace the lens. Our experienced surgeons expertly perform cataract surgery on infants and children. They use instruments and measurement techniques designed for children and factor in your child’s future growth.

Infants cannot receive the same synthetic lens as older children. But getting treatment in a timely manner is critical for maintaining the eye-brain connection. CHLA is one of a few centers nationwide certified to surgically implant a special lens (Artisan Aphakia Intraocular Lens) in young children whose eyes cannot support a traditional lens implant.

Comprehensive care for pediatric glaucoma

Childhood glaucoma is a rare condition that occurs when the drainage system in your child’s eye doesn’t work properly. As fluid builds up in the eye, it increases eye pressure (intraocular pressure). Left untreated, the pressure can damage the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain.

Signs of glaucoma include:

• Cloudy cornea
• Different sized eyes
• Enlarged cornea
• Excessive tearing
• Light sensitivity

To treat glaucoma, our ophthalmologists create a personalized plan for your child. Treatment may include nonsurgical treatments, such as eye drops and laser therapy, combined with surgery to decrease pressure in your child’s eye. We monitor and manage your child’s eye pressure over time as your child develops and grows.

Expertise in Pediatric Ophthalmology

At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, we quickly and accurately identify your child’s eye condition before creating a personalized treatment plan. Learn more about how we diagnose and treat eye diseases in children.

Contact us

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