Ocular Emergencies in Kids

Ocular complaints in children, such as a red or painful eye, sudden vision changes, or difficulty opening one eye, may represent more than a minor concern. In pediatrics, these presentations can progress rapidly, and timely recognition is critical to preventing long-term vision impairment. A focused five-minute eye examination can often distinguish between emergent, urgent, and routine conditions, making early assessment and intervention essential in the primary care setting. 

This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor at the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference in Denver, Colorado. Our guest is Donny Suh, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine, and Children’s Hospital of Orange County. 

In this episode, our ocular expert discusses: 

• What a pediatrician can learn in five minutes 
• The most common ocular injuries pediatrician's encounter 
• How pediatricians can support a patient before sending to a specialist 
• What history clues can tell a pediatrician