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Pediatric Ophthalmology

The Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, as part of the UPMC Vision Institute, provides examination, diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatment of ocular, eye movement, and vision system disorders in neonates, infants, and children. Conditions for which patients are referred include:

  • Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, where the main symptom is blurred vision when looking at distant objects
  • Strabismus, a condition in which the eyes are out of line relative to one another, resulting in a permanent squint
  • Nystagmus, a condition of involuntary, usually side-to-side movements of the eyeballs that often accompanies other vision problems
  • Amblyopia, a vision weakness of one eye that is often referred to as "lazy eye"
  • Refractive errors, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
  • Neuro-ophthalmic disorders
  • Pediatric cataracts, a build-up of material on the lens of the eye
  • Pediatric glaucoma, a build-up of fluid within the eye
  • Craniofacial syndromes such as tumors and abnormally shaped skulls
  • Retinopathy of prematurity, a degenerative condition of the retina
  • Eye and vision disorders associated with genetic diseases and diseases of metabolism, the nervous system, and the immune system
Referral Requirements

Depending on your child's insurance, a referral may be required from a primary care physician or other Children's Hospital specialty service. Referrals for patients enrolled in managed care insurance plans also may require authorization from the insurance provider and primary care physician. All necessary referral and authorization forms must be received before the hospital visit. For accurate provider numbers or more information, please call 412-692-8940.

For more information, please visit the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh website.

Testing and Examination Services

Learn which tests and examinations are provided by the Pediatric Ophthalmology team.

Educational Webinars

View the Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh's webinars on Pediatric Vision.