MDNews - Greater Kansas

THE HE ALTHY DE VELOPMENT OF THE E YES OF CHILDREN ¥ THE E YES OF THE FUTURE ¥ IS IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY ARE THEIR YOUNG E YES TA XED WITH VISUAL ACTIVITIES, BUT THEIR VISION SYSTEM CONTINUES TO GROW AND DE VELOP UNTIL ABOUT THE START OF THEIR TEENAGE YE ARS. CHARLE S R. WHITFILL , MD, the only pediatric ophthalmologist with Grene Vision Group, serves not only the Wichita area where the practice is headquartered, but also much of Kansas, with the exception of the northeastern part of the state. Occasionally patients are referred to him from neighboring state Oklahoma. "The staples of my practice are strabismus, amblyopia and reduced vision from di–erent classifications of those conditions," says Dr. Whitfill, who joined Grene Vision Group in 2005 and is board-certified with specialty training in not only pediatric ophthalmology but in adult strabismus as well. He provides both medical and surgical eye care for children. Strabismus is the misalignment of eyes, while amblyopia occurs when one of the eyes and the brain aren't working together properly. The sur- gical care Dr. Whitfill provides includes eye muscle surgery, removal of pediatric cataracts, and blocked tear ducts and minor oculoplastic procedures in children. Among the more common surgical procedures he performs are unblocking tear ducts and eye muscle surger y to help correct misa lignment. "Pediatric eye disorders are di–erent than adult eye disorders," Dr. Whitfill notes. "Pediatric patients are not tiny adults. Even the eye exam can be much more traumatic for a child, with shining bright lights in the eyes and dilation of the eyes. You need a certain level of skill to interact with children to make them as comfortable as possible and to communicate and explain to parents what we're trying to accomplish." Pediatric ophthalmology was the first subspecialty of ophthalmology, started in the early 1940s when a Washington, D.C. ophthalmologist decided to focus on pediatric patients and realized the unique needs of treating vision problems for children, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. When asked why he limited his practice to pediatrics, founder Dr. Frank C. Costenbader reportedly replied, "Kids are just more fun." That's the same sentiment Dr. Whitfill says he had when he completed his three-month rotation in pediatric ophthalmology during residency Pediatric Ophthalmologist Charles R. Whitfill, MD, joined Grene Vision Group in 2005. Future' BY AMY GEISZLERšJONES 'EYES OF THE THE HE ALTHY DE VELOPMENT OF THE E YES OF CHILDREN ¥ THE E YES OF THE FUTURE ¥ IS IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY ARE THEIR YOUNG E YES TA XED WITH VISUAL ACTIVITIES, BUT THEIR VISION SYSTEM CONTINUES TO GROW AND DE VELOP UNTIL ABOUT THE START OF THEIR TEENAGE YE ARS. CHARLE S R. WHITFILL , MD, the only pediatric ophthalmologist with Grene Vision Group, serves not only the Wichita area where the practice is headquartered, but also much of Kansas, with the exception of the northeastern part of the state. Occasionally patients are referred to him from neighboring state Oklahoma. "The staples of my practice are strabismus, amblyopia and reduced vision from di–erent classifications of those conditions," says Dr. Whitfill, who joined Grene Vision Group in 2005 and is board-certified with specialty training in not only pediatric ophthalmology but in adult strabismus as well. He provides both medical and surgical eye care for children. Strabismus is the misalignment of eyes, while amblyopia occurs when one of the eyes and the brain aren't working together properly. The sur gical care Dr. Whitfill provides includes eye muscle surgery, removal of pediatric cataracts, and blocked tear ducts and minor oculoplastic procedures in children. Among the more common surgical procedures he performs are unblocking tear ducts and eye muscle surger y to help correct misa lignment. "Pediatric eye disorders are di–erent than adult eye disorders," Dr. Whitfill notes. "Pediatric patients are not tiny adults. Even the eye exam can be much more traumatic for a child, with shining bright lights in the eyes and dilation of the eyes. You need a certain level of skill to interact with children to make them as comfortable as possible and to communicate and explain to parents what we're trying to accomplish." Pediatric ophthalmology was the first subspecialty of ophthalmology, started in the early 1940s when a Washington, D.C. ophthalmologist decided to focus on pediatric patients and realized the unique needs of treating vision problems for children, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. When asked why he limited his practice to pediatrics, founder Dr. Frank C. Costenbader reportedly replied, "Kids are just more fun." That's the same sentiment Dr. Whitfill says he had when he completed his three-month rotation in pediatric ophthalmology during residency Pediatric Ophthalmologist Charles R. Whitfill, MD, joined Grene Vision Group in 2005. Future' 'EYES OF THE Future' 'EYES OF THE Future' 1 0

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