Sickle Cell Anemia Center Promotes Thorough Pediatric Ophthalmology and Dentistry Care

The Sickle Cell Anemia Center at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital’s Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute in Cleveland, Ohio promotes thorough ophthalmology screening and routine dental exams.

Avoiding Visual Problems

Sickle cell disease can affect blood vessels in the eye, often with serious visual consequences. Because early stages of sickle cell eye disease do not usually result in vision symptoms, the disease can go undetected unless an ophthalmologist performs a formal eye exam.

Patients with sickle cell disease need yearly eye examinations beginning in childhood and continuing through adulthood.

Dental Care Prevents Complications

Routine dental care is important to prevent loss of teeth and infections that may lead to other complications. Dental counseling begins at an early age and should be maintained throughout life.

Dental procedures that require local anesthesia can be performed in the dentist’s office as with any other patient. Procedures that need to be done under general anesthesia require hospitalization at University Hospitals.