Pediatric Ocular Genetics Clinic
Inherited Eye Disease
At the 2017 meeting of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Dr. Alex Levin, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Wills Eye Hospital, pointed out there are only 70-80 ocular geneticists in the world. Dr. Levin himself is one, and so is Spokane Eye Clinic's own Dr. Matthew C. Weed.
Having completed a year of inherited eye disease fellowship at the University of Iowa with experts like Dr. Edwin Stone and working as a comprehensive pediatric ophthalmologist and taking care of every type of childhood eye problem, Dr. Weed now dedicates part of his practice to patients with rare, blinding diseases of childhood. He is happy to offer this service to the region, as patients in our area formerly had to go to Seattle or Portland to receive this specialty care.
Clinic Times
At Spokane Eye Clinic, the pediatric inherited eye disease clinic takes place once each month. Just a few patients are scheduled each day so that each patient can receive the same high-quality, comprehensive care that Dr. Weed learned to provide in fellowship.
What to Expect
The evaluation begins even before the patients arrive, with a review of the medical record from the patient's referring eye doctor. Dr. Weed reads and assesses the available information and develops an individualized plan for each patient's visit. Upon arrival, a member of the team initiates the eye exam, and then Dr. Weed visits with each family and takes a thorough history, focusing on when the first symptoms began, what they were, how they have changed over time, any prior diagnoses that have been made or genetic testing, the family history, and several other points.
Diagnostic Tests Available
Spokane Eye Clinic has built a diagnostic testing suite with specialized equipment that rivals that typically found in an academic medical center. The machines we use here are the exact same that Dr. Weed used at the University of Iowa. Some of the advanced technology we routinely use in the inherited eye disease clinic includes:
Kinetic visual fields: Whereas standard visual field machines like the Humphrey check for glaucoma and typically test the patient's central-most vision, the Octopus perimeter allows for the patient's far peripheral vision to be evaluated. This is crucial for patients with inherited eye diseases because these conditions often affect peripheral vision first.
Heidelberg Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT): OCT was a revelation in ophthalmology. Equivalent to an ultrasound that uses light instead of sound, OCT allows for detailed imaging of different areas of the eye. This quick, painless test gives a cross-sectional image of the patient's retina, allowing us to see the photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) which are damaged in many inherited eye diseases -- sometimes before the patient has developed any symptoms.
Topcon and Optos fundus cameras: These state-of-the-art cameras let our specialized photographers take pictures of the patient's retina, capturing nuances and providing a baseline against which future eye exams may be compared. With the Topcon, our photographers can take several shots and electronically "stitch" them together into a montage image, as seen below. The Optos, an even newer technology, can be a great option to get a quick montage-like image, especially from a wiggly child.
Electrophysiology equipment, including electroretinography (ERG), multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), and visual evoked potential (VEP): This highly specialized equipment measures the function of the patient's retina and optic nerve. Our ERG and VEP technology is top-of-the-line, and the only setup of its kind in the inland northwest region.
After a detailed history, eye exam, and any diagnostic testing that may be helpful, Dr. Weed reviews the diagnosis with the patient's family, and they work together to formulate a plan. This plan could include additional specialized testing, examining family members, or performing genetic testing to identify the change in the patient's DNA that has led to their eye problem. Individualized treatment to restore the vision of patients with inherited eye diseases is an exceedingly promising area of research, and dramatic advances have already been made. As additional trials and treatments become available, Dr. Weed will work with the academic medical centers where these are offered to get our patients "plugged in."
To schedule an appointment, call (509) 456-0107
