Can a paediatric ophthalmologist see adults? Squint, cataract and the family eye check
Dr Chan Li Yen is a paediatric ophthalmologist who sees the whole family. Here is what the training is, why adults with a squint are often seen by this subspecialty, and when a problem belongs with another eye specialist.
I see parents and grandparents for squint, cataract and everyday eye problems, so one family can keep one eye doctor. Family eye care Where I practise
- A paediatric ophthalmologist is a fully trained ophthalmologist first. AAPOS says its members completed medical school, an ophthalmology residency and a fellowship in paediatric ophthalmology.
- Strabismus specialists also treat adults with eyes that do not work properly together (American Academy of Ophthalmology), and some paediatric ophthalmologists care for adults with crossed or drifting eyes (AAPOS).
- A squint that appears suddenly in an adult almost always causes double vision. AAPOS calls this a warning sign that should be checked by a doctor.
- Dr Chan sees adults for squint, cataract and general eye care, and operates on squint and cataract.
- Retina, glaucoma and eyelid or orbit problems have their own subspecialists. An ophthalmologist can refer you on.
Yes. A paediatric ophthalmologist is first a fully trained ophthalmologist, an eye doctor for all ages, and some also care for adults, particularly adults with a squint. Dr Chan Li Yen, a consultant paediatric ophthalmologist and consultant ophthalmologist at Eagle Eye Centre Kuala Lumpur in Petaling Jaya, sees the whole family, and adults see her for squint, cataract and general eye care.
This page is for the adult who has wondered whether "the children's eye doctor" is the wrong door for them, or for a parent who would like to keep one doctor for the family. It covers what the training is, why adults with a squint often end up with this subspecialty, what Dr Chan sees in adults, and when a problem belongs with another kind of eye specialist.
What training does a paediatric ophthalmologist have?
A paediatric ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who completed ophthalmology specialist training first and then added further training in children's eyes. The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) says its members all completed medical school, an ophthalmology residency and a fellowship specialising in paediatric ophthalmology.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) explains the same pattern from the other side. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor trained in all aspects of eye care, and a subspecialist is an ophthalmologist who adds a fellowship to focus on one part of the eye or one kind of patient. So the subspecialty sits on top of a general ophthalmology base. It does not replace it.
The AAO also notes that if your general ophthalmologist finds a condition that needs more specific care, you may be referred to a subspecialist. That works in both directions: a subspecialist who is not the right fit for a problem can refer you on.
Why are adults with a squint often seen by a paediatric ophthalmologist?
Squint (strabismus) is the core subject of the subspecialty, and the AAO says strabismus specialists also treat adults with eyes that do not work properly together. AAPOS adds that some paediatric ophthalmologists also take care of adults with crossed or drifting eyes. Many adult squints began in childhood and were never fully corrected, so the doctor who knows how eye alignment develops is a natural fit.
AAPOS says an adult squint has two common stories: it was there since childhood, or it started suddenly in adulthood. A squint that has been there since childhood usually does not cause double vision. A squint that appears suddenly almost always does, and AAPOS calls that a warning sign that should be checked by a doctor, because the doctor then looks for the cause.
Whether it is too late to straighten the eyes is a common worry, and it is answered in squint in adults: is it too late to straighten the eye. The action: if you have a squint, old or new, book an eye examination rather than waiting. New double vision is not a wait-and-see problem.
What does Dr Chan see in adults?
Dr Chan sees adults for squint, cataract and general eye care, and she operates on squint and cataract. That is the whole of what this page says about her adult practice, and it matches her about page, where she writes that parents and grandparents are welcome so that one family can keep one eye doctor.
For cataract, the cloudy lens that comes with age, the practical questions for a Malaysian family are covered in cataract surgery in Malaysia: government or private. For a parent's general eye care, a regular examination is the starting point, and the same visit can check for conditions that give no early warning, such as glaucoma. What that check involves is explained in the glaucoma check for a parent.
When does an adult problem belong with another subspecialist?
When the problem sits in one part of the eye that another subspecialty is built around. The AAO lists the subspecialties by area. Retina specialists manage diseases of the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye, including macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease, and repair torn and detached retinas. Glaucoma specialists use medicine, laser and surgery to manage eye pressure. Oculoplastic surgeons repair problems of the eyelids, the bones around the eye and the tear drainage system.
In general terms, then, a retinal tear or detachment goes to a retina specialist, difficult glaucoma goes to a glaucoma specialist, and an eyelid, tear duct or socket problem goes to an oculoplastic surgeon. Dr Catherine Chow's site explains that last role in what is an oculoplastic surgeon and when to see one in Malaysia.
The first visit does not need to be a guess. An ophthalmologist examines the whole eye, and if the problem belongs elsewhere, the usual route is a referral. The action: if you are unsure which door is right, start with an ophthalmologist and ask whether you need a subspecialist.
Can one family keep one eye doctor?
For many families, yes, and it is a convenience rather than a rule. A child's squint, a mother's reading-glasses question and a grandfather's cataract can all be raised with the same doctor, who then knows the family history. Family history matters in eye care: squint, short-sightedness and glaucoma all run in families, and the family eye care topic collects the pages written for parents and grandparents.
It also helps to know what a family member is checked for. A parent with a relative who has glaucoma should ask about having their pressure, nerve and side vision checked, and the glaucoma check explained lists what to bring. For a simple map of who in the household needs which check, see eye checks for the whole family.
If you want advice on a particular adult problem, the article is general information. The examination and the plan are for the doctor to decide with you.
- Double vision appears suddenly, in an adult or a child.
- One eye starts to turn in or out and it was not there before.
- A grey curtain, a shadow or a sudden loss of part of the vision appears in either eye.
- There is severe eye pain, especially with a red eye, headache or vomiting.
Common questions
Can a paediatric ophthalmologist treat adults?
What training does a paediatric ophthalmologist have?
Why would an adult with a squint see a paediatric ophthalmologist?
Is a sudden squint in an adult serious?
When should an adult see a retina, glaucoma or oculoplastic specialist instead?
Can one family keep one eye doctor?
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus · What is a pediatric ophthalmologist? · aapos.org
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus · Adult strabismus · aapos.org
- American Academy of Ophthalmology · Ophthalmology subspecialists · www.aao.org
- American Academy of Ophthalmology · What is an ophthalmologist vs optometrist? · www.aao.org