Evaluation and Treatment Protocol for Patients With Pediatric Eye Diseases and Strabismus

This study offers evaluation and treatment for patients with pediatric eye diseases, particularly amblyopia and strabismus. The protocol is not designed to test new treatments; rather, patients will receive current standard of care treatments. The purpose of the study is twofold: 1) to allow National Eye Institute physicians to increase their knowledge of inflammatory eye conditions and identify possible new avenues of research in this area; and 2) to establish a pool of patients who may be eligible for new studies as they are developed. (Participants in this protocol will not be required to join a new study; the decision will be voluntary.)

Patients age 6 months and older with pediatric eye diseases, including amblyopia, strabismus, cataracts, glaucoma, and developmental abnormalities may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, eye examination, and diagnostic procedures that may include routine laboratory testing, X-rays, questionnaires, physical examination, and other standard or specialized tests or procedures as needed. The eye examination includes measurements of eye pressure and visual acuity (ability to see the vision chart), examination of the pupils and eye movements, and dilation of the pupils to examine the lens and retina. In addition, patients will undergo a procedure to record eye movements called oculography, in which special detectors measure infrared light reflected off the patient's eyes while he or she watches lights on a computer screen.

Participants will be followed for at least 3 years. Visits will be scheduled from 1 to 6 times a year, according to the standard of care for the individual patient's eye problem. Vision will be checked at each visit, and some of the screening tests described above may be repeated to follow the progress of disease and evaluate the response to treatment.