Ophthalmology at Boston Children's Hospital

05/12/2026

Happy Nurses Week to our incredible Ophthalmology nurses - Amanda, Sam, and Liz! 👩‍⚕️🩺 We appreciate the care, support, and dedication you bring to our patients, families, and team every single day. Thank you for everything you do! 💙

04/23/2026

We are proud to share an important milestone for the Department of Ophthalmology at Boston Children’s Hospital!

Under the leadership of Dr. Leyla Yavuz Saricay, MD, FEBO, Boston Children’s has become the first pediatric hospital to implement Epioxa, a newly FDA-approved, minimally invasive corneal cross-linking treatment, which was successfully performed last Wednesday.

This advancement is especially meaningful for children as keratoconus often progresses more rapidly in pediatric patients. Expanding access to less invasive treatment options may enhance patient access and procedural efficiency. Less invasive approaches can also improve patient cooperation in local anesthesia settings, facilitate smoother postoperative recovery, and reduce infection risk—particularly in cases requiring bilateral procedures.

We appreciate the collaboration with Glaukos Corporation in bringing this technology into pediatric care and look forward to continuing to advance treatment options for our patients.

04/23/2026

Risky Business: What's Your AI Equation was great discussion on the growing role of AI in healthcare and how it is shaping the way we work and make decisions. Thanks to Gordon Massey for bringing this together and to Professor Venkat Venkatraman for sharing insights on how AI can be used to automate, augment, and amplify output, and what that means for navigating both the opportunities and risks ahead.

04/23/2026

🧠👁️ Important findings for parents of young athletes and children with concussions

In a multicenter study of children ages 8-18 led by researchers in Boston Children’s Ophthalmology, Dr. Aparna Raghuram and her collegagues from Stanford Univsity and Pennsylvania College of Optometry found 3 out of 4 kids with persistent concussion symptoms have vision problems that often go undetected.

• 76% struggled with eye focusing (vs. just 3% of healthy kids)
• 62% had trouble with eye teaming/convergence
• These issues persisted months after injury

The good news? Two simple screening tests can identify these problems early:
✅ Near point of convergence (how close your eyes can focus together)
✅ Accommodative amplitude (how well your eyes adjust focus)

Why this matters: Vision problems can interfere with reading, learning, and recovery. Early detection means kids can get targeted vision therapy alongside their concussion treatment. If your child has had a concussion and is experiencing ongoing symptoms—especially with reading, schoolwork, or screen time—ask about a comprehensive vision evaluation.

https://www.childrenshospital.org/services/ophthalmology

The oculomotor profile of persistently symptomatic concussed paediatric participants shows a high frequency of vergence and accommodative deficits, for which NPC and AA are effective screening tools. Further investigation should examine oculomotor deficits in acutely concussed paediatric patients.

03/11/2026

Please join us for a half-day continuing education program designed for pediatricians and primary eye care providers. Boston Children's optometrists and ophthalmologists will discuss the latest developments in the diagnosis and management of pediatric eye conditions. Register here:

02/24/2026

🔍 New Research: "Lazy Eye" (Amblyopia) Linked to Long-Term Health Impacts

Drs. Whitman, Oke, and their colleagues recently published a study of nearly 2,000 adults revealing that amblyopia—commonly known as "lazy eye"—may have far-reaching effects beyond vision.

Key Findings:
👁️ Adults with amblyopia showed higher rates of:
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Blindness in both eyes

🚶‍♀️ They also walked significantly fewer steps per day, indicating reduced physical activity
🧠 Mental health conditions were more common, including:
• Anxiety disorders
• ADHD
• Autism
• OCD
• Substance use disorders

Why It Matters: This research suggests that childhood amblyopia may be connected to systemic health challenges in adulthood—whether through the effects of visual impairment itself or shared underlying risk factors.

The Takeaway: Early detection and treatment of lazy eye in children isn't just about vision—it may impact lifelong health. More research is needed to understand the neurodevelopmental connections between amblyopia and these health conditions.



🔗Link to abstract

Amblyopia is associated with long-term systemic health conditions, suggesting either long-term effects of visual impairment or shared underlying risk factors. These findings underscore the need for early detection and intervention. Further research is needed to explore the neurodevelopmental pathway...

02/09/2026

01/21/2026

12/03/2025

We were honored to host representatives from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. in late September for a meeting with two of their recent Career Starter Research Grant awardees, Dr. Sampath Vemula and Dr. Manon Szczepan. These grants support early-career researchers in their pursuit of innovative solutions to vision-related challenges. We are deeply grateful for the KTEF’s longstanding commitment to funding critical research, which not only advances eye health but also empowers our fellows to drive breakthroughs in the field.

11/28/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from the Department of Ophthalmology!! 🦃🍽️🍂