Beaumont has one of the largest Pediatric Ophthalmology and Retinal
Services programs in the country. Our pediatric ophthalmology team
performs procedures on children who are suffering from a range of
congenital retinal diseases that can compromise sight. Nearly 685
infants and children undergo these types of procedures at Beaumont
Children's annually.
Newborns with suspected retinopathy of prematurity come from across
the country and around the world to receive vision-saving surgery from
Beaumont pediatric ophthalmology specialists. Nearly 75 percent of
children who have the surgery at Beaumont Children's are from
outside of Michigan, and half of those patients are from other
countries. They benefit from the highly skilled care provided in our
50-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which is staffed by eight
board-certified neonatologists and a team of 100 specially trained,
neonatal intensive care registered nurses.
Premature newborns who develop eye problems do not have symptoms, so
the diagnosis depends on examination of the back of the eyes by a
specially trained pediatric ophthalmologist. Treatment consists of laser
applications to the outermost portions of the retina to stop abnormal
growth of blood vessels and decrease the risk of retinal detachment and
vision loss.
Eye examinations are repeated every one to two weeks until growth of
the blood vessels in the retina is complete. Infants who develop severe
retinopathy must have eye exams yearly for the rest of their lives.
Beaumont's world-renowned pediatric ophthalmologists perform eye
surgeries in two specially designed suites at the Ghesquiere Family
Center for Children's Surgery, which enhances the safety of children by
meeting their unique physical, emotional and social needs. Specially
trained pediatric anesthesiologists, nurses and surgical staff assist.