A Focus on Pediatric Eye Care

By Stacey Walters

Kentucky College of Optometry graduate and Dayton Children’s Hospital Pediatric Optometrist Amber Dawson, O.D., KYCO ’20, is helping raise awareness of the importance of children’s vision to ensure they have a successful future.

“Undetected vision problems can interfere with children’s learning and education, and intervention is more likely to be successful when initiated early,” said Dawson. “The most important tool for children to learn is their vision.”

Dawson always knew she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. She chose optometry as her specialty to be a voice for children who do not know how to explain if they have vision issues.

“I can advocate for children and tell the parents if they need eyeglasses or vision therapy,” said Dawson. “They aren’t thriving because they can’t see, and I can easily change that.”

Dawson, a Lexington, Ky., native, embarked on her journey with optometry in 2016 by becoming a part of the inaugural class at KYCO and immersing herself into Appalachia’s sense of community.

“Attending KYCO was like gaining a second family or having a home away from home,” said Dawson. “Being in the first graduating class, we all spent a lot of time together and became very close. It was comforting that everyone was always willing to give a helping hand.”

Dawson found that she was ultimately interested in pediatrics during her second year at KYCO and began offering tutoring to classmates in those classes.

“I excelled in all the classes related to pediatrics. I enjoy working with kids. Kids are entertaining and keep you on your toes,” said Dawson. “Common pediatric problems are so different from adults. After finishing the peds clinic during my third year, I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

The high level of clinical care and hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology at KYCO gave Dawson an advantage in her career.

“Pediatric technology comes in the form of equipment to help train kids in vision therapy,” said Dawson. “The computerized tools we were trained to use at KYCO allowed us to track progress, diagnose and treat disorders that prevent kids from learning to the best of their ability in school. It is rewarding to see where they started and how much they continue to improve.”

Sharing the same passion for treating children, Assistant Dean and Professor of Optometry Josephine Ibironke, O.D., MPH, FAAO, inspired Dawson to stay dedicated and push forward.

“Her evolution has been a gift to watch,” said Ibironke. “I am proud she is pursuing her dream of caring for children, and I look forward to seeing her continued contribution to pediatric eye care.”

After graduating from KYCO, Dawson completed a pediatric residency with a concentration in special needs and traumatic brain injury at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Once she completed her residency, she moved to Dayton, Ohio, and began working as a pediatric optometrist.

She offers her expertise in special needs, including autism, down syndrome and functional vision assessments specializing in amblyopia strabismus and binocular vision conditions.

“The hospital has a strong sense of community with access to healthcare for pediatrics,” said Dawson. “This is especially true of my special needs population where finding services to be treated is difficult as these patients are considered to be more challenging.”

Dawson’s future aspiration in her career is to continue to educate parents on the importance of early intervention with comprehensive eye exams.

“I would like to pursue my passion and grow a practice known for caring for special needs patients,” said Dawson. “I hope to get involved with the Special Olympics and implement proper vision screenings and awareness for families with special needs. As long as I work in pediatrics, I’ll be happy with whatever my career brings.”

Dean of KYCO Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO, FNAP, is proud to see how Dawson’s meaningful work in pediatrics and special populations has grown into an outstanding career.

“Our KYCO graduates are becoming established, and it is wonderful to see how they are making a difference while providing quality eye care in Appalachia and beyond,” said Bacigalupi. “Dr. Dawson has always been focused on what is best for her patients, and we are pleased to see the great things she is accomplishing in her career.”