Retinal Disease in Children

Diseases of the retina -- the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye that sends information about what you're seeing to your brain -- can affect infants through adolescents in many different ways. Their severity and treatment vary, which is why comprehensive diagnosis and expert management is crucial to minimizing the impact these diseases have on your child’s vision. Retinal diseases in children include:

Retinopathy of Prematurity
Affects premature babies. It causes moderate to severe abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina that may require surgery.

Detached Retina
Occurs when the retina detaches from the back of the eye. It may result from trauma or disease.

Juvenile Macular Degeneration
An inherited disorder in which the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision, breaks down. The most common form is Stargardt disease.

Retinoblastoma
An eye cancer that begins in the retina, typically in young children.

Uveitis
​A rare, complex condition that can cause chronic inflammation in the front, middle or back of the eye.

Advances in imaging technology have made it possible for children with retinal diseases to be diagnosed early and receive prompt treatment and appropriate follow-up care. However, the diagnostic process can take three hours or longer. Sometimes it may be necessary for our young patients to be sedated so they can stay still while images are taken of the inside of the eye. 

For these reasons, it is important that your child is cared for by pediatric retinal specialists who are specially trained to care for young children and to use sophisticated technology designed for evaluating children's eyes and vision. We offer these services in the child-friendly Duke Pediatric Retina and Optic Nerve Center's pediatric imaging suite, located at the Duke Eye Center in Durham.

Fluorescein Angiography

Dye is injected into a vein, and a camera-like device takes pictures as the dye moves through the blood vessels in the back of the eye. 

Electroretinography

Measures the electrical response of the light-sensitive cells in the retina -- mostly in the macula, which is at the center of the retina. A small electrode is placed on each eye to diagnose macular degeneration.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

This computer-guided imaging device creates a detailed 3-D view of the inside of the eye. It enables us to more accurately diagnose childhood retinal, macular, and optic-nerve conditions. 

Photography

A fundus camera takes ultra-wide photographs of the back part of the eye to detect retinal tears or detachments, or retinopathy. 

Ultrasound

Noninvasive sound waves travel through closed eyelids to create high-resolution images of the inside of the eye to help detect retinal tears, holes, or detachment.

Visual Field Testing

An automated vision test that checks for blind spots and other vision defects caused by diseases of the retina. 

There Are Few Pediatric Retinal Surgeons in the U.S. Duke Has Two
Together, with a team of pediatric eye specialists, we manage your child’s condition and develop detailed treatment recommendations. We work closely with a dedicated expert in pediatric retinal imaging, as well as specialists who focus on inflammation in the optic nerve -- pediatric optic neuropathies -- that can affect the retina. This ensures your child’s condition is managed effectively.

Guidance and Tools for Your Child's Care
Your child may benefit from the guidance and tools found in our low vision rehabilitation program. If they have an inherited condition, your family may choose to work with our genetic counselors. We have everything you need to ensure your child receives the best possible treatment now and as they grow.

Access to Clinical Trials
Your child may have access to new therapies through our clinical trials, which are paving the way toward new treatments for, understanding about, and ways to prevent retinal diseases.