Neuro-Ophtalmology

Neurological diseases often have some ophthalmic effects. A child's visual problem could stem from a disorder of the brain (where visual signals are interpreted) or the optical nerve (which transmits images to the brain), and may not necessarily due to a problem of the eye itself. The Paediatrician Neuro-Ophthalmologist regularly is challenged by brain or optical nerve disorders, which affect ocular vision and movements.

General practitioners, paediatricians, paediatric neurologists and paediatric ophthalmologists are often faced with a child affected by nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), a complex motility disorder (rare eye deviation, poor and limited eye movement, etc.), and abnormal pupils and various other signs. It's important to know whether these effects are related to a neurological problem or merely an ocular problem.

The Paediatric Neuro-Ophthalmologist must work in conjunction with other specialists who care for children at the CHU Sainte-Justine. Parents who are worried about the possible different effects of neurological diseases on their child’s vision, are able to appreciate the importance of such close collaborative work.

The CHU Sainte-Justine Ophthalmology Department offers paediatric neuro-ophthalmology services one day per week, on Wednesdays, as well as emergency consultations the rest of the time. The department is equipped with an electrophysiology laboratory (electroretinogram, visual invoked potential) and a medical photography laboratory (videos, photographs of the concave interior of the eye, OCT, etc.). The clinic also cooperates with the hospital’s Neuro-Radiology Department (magnetic resonance, tomography, etc.).

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