Without cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant as an infant, it is likely that Julia Musgrove would not have vision in one eye.

When David and Suzi Musgrove brought their infant to her one-month check-up, the pediatrician found no red-reflex in the baby's eye. The next day, they had an appointment with Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Douglas Fredrick, MD, at UCSF, and the following Monday, Julia had surgery to remove a dense cataract from her right eye. At 7 weeks, she was fitted with a contact lens and an eye patch to treat amblyopia ('lazy eye') in the weaker eye.

Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Dr. Douglas Fredrick, with Julia Musgrove.

"It was a whirlwind," says Suzi Musgrove. "With a baby, a cataract keeps the eye from communicating with the brain. The sooner you remove the cataract, the better the child's chance of seeing well."

At 11 months, Dr. Fredrick discovered a cataract in Julia's left eye, which led to a genetic evaluation to rule out hereditary causes.

Then, when Julia was 15 months old, she couldn't tolerate any lens, and became one of the youngest children with an intraocular lens. "Only in the last decade, have lens implants been available for children under six," says Dr. Fredrick. "Only if the child can't tolerate a contact lens, do we use implants in a child under two."

"Dr. Fredrick has always taken time to answer every question I have," says Suzi Musgrove. "He says that I'm my child's best advocate, and I should ask questions until I understand what she's getting and what she needs."

Ophthalmology Care for Children at UCSF

Pediatric Ophthalmology
Douglas Fredrick, MD
Creig Hoyt, MD

Reconstructive Surgery
Stuart Seiff, MD

Corneal Care
Stephen McLeod, MD
David Hwang, MD

Pediatric Glaucoma
Jorge Alvarado, MD
Robert Stamper, MD

Retinal Care
Robert Bhisitkul, MD, PhD

Retinoblastoma
Eye Cancer
Joan O'Brien, MD