Everyday hot topics in paediatric ophthalmology discussed

The ‘Everyday Hot Topics in Paediatric Ophthalmology’ provided a practical overview of current challenges and advances in children’s eye care in Ireland.

Keynote speakers at the dedicated session were Miss Arundhati Dev Borman, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin; Dr Bobby Tang, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda; Ms Kathryn McCreery and Ms Treasa Murphy, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons at Children’s Health Ireland. Dr Tang was among the recipients of four awards for ophthalmology projects at the HSE Spark Access Accelerator Initiative Award earlier this year.

Miss Dev Borman’s presentation covered evidence-based management of refractive error and amblyopia, including CHI prescribing protocols and modern amblyopia treatment strategies.

Ms Murphy presented guidance on referral pathways for paediatric strabismus surgery covering the major subtypes of childhood eye misalignment: infantile esotropia, partially accommodative esotropia, convergence excess esotropia, constant and intermittent exotropia, and acute acquired comitant esotropia.  Ms Murphy’s talk highlighted that timely, criteria-driven surgical referral, after appropriate optical and medical management, optimises binocular outcomes and minimises long-term visual and psychosocial impact.

Dr Tang explored the diagnosis and management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, emphasising the importance of early symptom recognition and appropriate management strategies for moderate to severe cases to prevent long-term visual damage.

Dr Tang also discussed the establishment of a nationwide digital retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening programme aimed at improving equitable access to specialist care for premature infants across Ireland. Currently, many neonatal units lack access to ophthalmologists trained to provide ROP screening, resulting in uneven service distribution across the country. In 2025 alone, up to 100 premature infants had to be transported in incubators from their local neonatal units to central hospitals for screening examinations.  By incorporating advanced retinal imaging technology and an integrated digital workflow, the programme will allow high-quality retinal images to be captured locally and securely reviewed by specialist clinicians.  Ultimately, the programme aims to provide equitable, high-quality ROP screening for premature infants across Ireland while reducing unnecessary transfers and improving clinical outcomes for some of the country’s most vulnerable newborns.

In her talk on myopia management, Ms McCreery addressed the growing importance of its prevention and treatment. She focused on interventions such as low-dose atropine therapy, specialised lenses, and the need for greater educational support for parents, caregivers, and educators regarding lifestyle factors to reduce progression and future sight-threatening complications associated with myopia. High myopia in adults is associated with an increased risk of macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataracts. Reducing the incidence in our population will hugely benefit the eye health of future generations in Ireland and must be a public health priority, she told the conference.