Vision Center
The vision experts at Akron Children’s Hospital specialize in the comprehensive evaluation, coordinated care and cutting-edge treatment of eye disease and visual system disorders in infants, children, teens and adults who have remaining vision disorders due to childhood eye diseases.
Led by renowned pediatric ophthalmologist Richard Hertle, our team of ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, ophthalmic techs, scientists and others is committed to improving the quality of life for you and your child.
The Vision Center, an Akron Children's Hospital Center of Excellence, offers the latest in diagnostics and care for children with vision problems, no matter how simple or complex. The advanced treatment for rare eye diseases, such as congenital nystagmus, brings patients from all over the world to Akron Children’s for care. Our team also specializes in caring for children with disabilities.
We use the latest technology to perform imaging and physiological evaluation of visual systems, and incorporate specialized tests and procedures, such as ERGs and EMRs, to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
We also offer the following specialty programs to allow patients to conveniently attend multiple appointments in one day, in one location.
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Uveitis Clinic. Uveitis is swelling and irritation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, which provides most of the blood supply to the retina. It can be caused by autoimmune diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, infection or exposure to toxins.
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Nystagmus Clinic. Nystagmus refers to rapid, involuntary movement of the eyes (dancing eyes). It affects one in about 3,000 people, and many of these individuals are partially sighted. Dr. Richard Hertle is one of the only physicians in the world who performs the horizontal tenotomy to improve congenital nystagmus.
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Adult Strabismus Clinic. Strabismus, often referred to as crossed eyes, refers to any misalignment of the eyes. The eyes may turn in, out, up or down. If the same eye is chronically misaligned, amblyopia (lazy eye) may also develop in that eye.
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Schedule on MyChart
Log in to MyChart at mychart.akronchildrens.org. Select the patient you are scheduling for and click "Schedule an Appointment." Don't have MyChart?
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Speak with a scheduler
330-543-2778 (KID-APPT)
Why Akron Children's
Specializing In:
The only children's hospital to offer a clinic dedicated solely to pediatric scleral lenses. Learn more
We’ve treated patients from 8 countries and 34 states.
Dr. Richard Hertle is one of the only physicians in the world who performs the horizontal tenotomy to improve congenital nystagmus.
Locations
Contact Vision Center
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Level 2
Akron, Ohio 44308
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Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Boardman
Building C
6505 Market Street
Suite 1100
Boardman, Ohio 44512
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Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Vision, Boston Heights
Akron Children's Health Center
328 East Hines Hill Road
Boston Heights, Ohio 44236
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Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Medina
Akron Children's Health Center
3443 Medina Road
Door 1 (Suite 108)
Medina, Ohio 44256
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Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Canton
Akron Children's Health Center
6076 Whipple Avenue
North Canton, Ohio 44720
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Map & directions
Our Doctors/Providers
Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology; Dr. Boomer and Jill Burnstine Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology; Pediatric Ophthalmologist
Videos
Open Clinical Studies
A study testing the BrainPort® artificial vision system
We are studying whether a medical device called the BrainPort® can help blind children. The device includes a video camera mounted on top of a pair of glasses. The camera sends signals to a special tongue pad held in the mouth. Using this device, the brain “learns” to detect visual information such as shapes and movement. Walking a 40-foot obstacle course your child will learn to locate various objects. Two groups of children will participate: children who are blind and those with normal vision. Twenty children will be in the study which may take up to 6 two-hour visits. The study takes about a month to complete.
For full study description please visit: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02643238?term=BrainPort&rank=2
More about this study...
Currently recruiting
What Should Families Expect When They Come for an Appointment?
At Akron Children’s, your child’s health and safety is our priority. Please continue to bring your child for wellness visits, vaccinations or sick care appointments that keep children healthy. We want to assure you that we have taken additional precautions to ensure a safe environment for your child and family. The following are additional safety efforts, in addition to our normal cleaning protocols, that we are taking to help you be comfortable bringing your child to an appointment.
Masking and Other Safety Protocols
Akron Children’s has a number of safety protocols in place for our patients and visitors in order to provide a safe hospital environment.
About Insurance
Insurance coverage for vision is dependent upon diagnosis and can involve your medical insurance and/or vision care insurance. A diagnosis can only be determined by the provider at the completion of the exam. In addition, coverage varies by company. Please review your insurance plan benefits for vision care in advance of your appointment. In addition, there is a specific test that is done at each yearly exam and possibly each visit depending on the patient's diagnosis (CPT 92015 Refraction). This is often not paid by insurance. For questions about your individual plan please contact your insurance carrier.
Education
Akron Children’s Hospital’s Vision Center prides itself on a commitment to medical education. We offer two fellowship programs, one in optometry and one in ophthalmology, to provide training for the next generation of health care providers.
From a patient family perspective, this means that there will likely be a student present at your appointment. We thank you for your understanding as we take the time to allow these students the opportunity to learn and grow in their medical and health care pursuits.
More information on our optometry fellowship can be found here, and more information on our ophthalmology fellowship can be found here.
Some of the Conditions We Treat...
Amblyopia, aphakia, astigmatism, blindness, cataracts, congenital glaucoma, congenital nystagmus, crossed eyes, farsightedness, hyperopia, infantile cataracts, juvenile glaucoma, lazy eye, myopia, nearsightedness, pediatric cataracts, refractive errors, retinal disorders, retinoblastoma, retinopathy of prematurity, strabismus, uveitis, vision defects
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