Pediatrics Blog

Fireworks Safety & the 4th of July

What is the ophthalmologists' most dreaded holiday?  I have no doubt that if I polled pediatric ophthalmologists, and probably ophthalmologists in general, that the overwhelming majority would answer the 4th…

Cosmetic Contacts for Halloween?

Decorative contact lenses can be a fun way to change your look for Halloween, but before slipping in these spooky accessories, be sure you know how to use them properly and that the lenses are safe...

Does Patching Help Fix Eye Misalignment?

Simply put, no it does not. This is a common misconception. Patching doesn't help straighten the eyes; it's done to help the non-patched eye develop better vision, but it almost never also results in better eye alignment.

Remember sunglasses this summer

More than a fashion statement, sunglasses are an important tool to protect eyes from the sun's harmful rays. With summer just around the corner, the Spokane Eye Clinic reminds patients of the importance of wearing sunglasses.

Amblyopia Patching Tips

Amblyopia (commonly referred to as “lazy eye”) is a decreased vision of one or less commonly both eyes in an otherwise structurally normal eye. This is often caused by a difference in glasses prescription between the two eyes or eye misalignment (strabismus). To treat amblyopia, we often use occlusion therapy, or patching. This works by covering the ‘good’ eye and forcing the child to use the amblyopic eye and stimulating those neural pathways.

Glasses Frame Selection for Pediatric Patients

One of the most important things to consider when fitting a child is the fit of the frame. Position of wear and comfort are both very important with children because if they are not looking through the prescription there is no benefit, and if they don’t like how they feel, I guarantee they will not be on for long!

Frustrations with Insurance & Eye Care

In this post I wanted to tackle a practical topic that often causes frustrations for both you and your eye doctor. When you, or in our case your child, is getting an eye exam there could be confusion about what insurance covers the exam. It is important to understand the difference between a “routine” eye exam and a “medical” eye exam.

Can Crossed Eyes or Wandering Eyes Be Fixed?

People with strabismus—the medical term for eye misalignment—whether they have an eye that turns in (esotropia) or wanders out (exotropia), or an eye that goes up (hypertropia), don't have to just "live with it." In almost all cases, they can be treated successfully. The most common treatment options are eye muscle surgery and eye glasses.

Kids & The Solar Eclipse

The excitement continues to build with regards to the total solar eclipse only 2 weeks away on August 21st.

Safe Viewing of the Solar Eclipse

You are probably all aware of the coming Great American Solar Eclipse coming later this month on August 21st.