"These important pieces of diagnostic equipment, which are dedicated exclusively to pediatric services, greatly enhance the ophthalmology services we are able to provide to young patients at Winthrop-University Hospital," said Warren Rosenfeld, MD, Chairman of Pediatrics at Winthrop. "In addition, having the tools readily available in pediatric areas of the Hospital enables our physicians to see patients right on the pediatric unit or in the nursery, which enables us to keep them in the safest and most comfortable environment for them."

The slit lamp - the principal device used by ophthalmologists to examine the structures at the front of the eye - facilitates the diagnosis of multiple pediatric conditions such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Wilson's Disease, Kawasaki's Disease, neurofibromatosis and others when an in-hospital, detailed eye exam is crucial.

"The slit lamp also makes following the course of many conditions much easier and exact as it provides a meticulous, magnified view of ocular structures that are affected by these conditions," said Stephen Kronwith, MD, PhD, Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Winthrop.

At Winthrop, the new portable retinal camera, which takes high resolution photos of the back portion of the eye known as the retina, will be used for teaching purposes as well as aid in the documentation of various eye conditions that can change over time and are best followed by photographs. It will also be an invaluable aid in the documentation and subsequent legal prosecution in cases of child abuse since often the only evidence of such abuses are hemorrhages (bleeding) in the retina.

In addition, the new indirect ophthalmoscope - the standard device for wide view examination of the retina and accompanying diagnostic lenses - will be dedicated to the neonatal intensive care unit at Winthrop. 

"Having an instrument that is dedicated to just the neonatal unit will dramatically reduce the chance of cross contamination and infection in babies, which is especially important today with the emergence of more antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria," said Dr. Kronwith.

A leader in high quality, comprehensive pediatric care, the Children's Medical Center at Winthrop-University Hospital specializes in diagnosing and treating a full range of eye conditions in children. For more information about pediatric ophthalmology services at Winthrop, please call 1-866-WINTHROP.

Winthrop-University Hospital

Winthrop-University Hospital, a 591-bed major teaching hospital, is a New York State-designated Regional Trauma Center, a NYS Regional Perinatal Center and a NYS Department of Health-designated Stroke Center. Winthrop's mission to provide "Care without compromise," is underscored by high quality, comprehensive health care services offered in a warm and caring environment equipped with the most sophisticated medical technology. For additional information about Winthrop-University Hospital, visit www.winthrop.org.