EyeHealth Northwest expands pediatric eye care services in Portland area

EyeHealth Northwest is adding a pediatric ophthalmologist, orthoptist and pediatric optometrist to expand specialized eye care for children across the Portland region. The practice will split visits between Milwaukie and Peterkort while planning a dedicated pediatric clinic to open in spring 2027.

Why it matters: - EyeHealth Northwest is addressing a regional shortage of pediatric eye care specialists. - The expansion is meant to speed diagnosis and treatment for childhood vision problems that are most effective to treat early. - Families and referring providers gain a larger in-network option for conditions including amblyopia, strabismus and other pediatric eye disorders.

What happened: - EyeHealth Northwest announced an expansion of its pediatric eye care services for children throughout the Portland metro area. - Sasha Strul, MD, joined the practice as a pediatric ophthalmologist from the Minnesota Lions Children's Eye Clinic. - Dr. Strul will focus exclusively on pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus. - The expanded team now includes an orthoptist and an additional pediatric optometrist. - Dr. Strul will see patients at the Milwaukie office on Mondays and Tuesdays and at the Peterkort office on Thursdays and Fridays.

The details: - EyeHealth Northwest operates multiple locations and provides ophthalmology and optometry services across the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. - Dr. Strul brings subspecialty training and eight years of clinical experience in pediatric ophthalmology. - The orthoptist adds support for evaluating and managing complex eye alignment and binocular vision issues. - EyeHealth Northwest plans to open a new stand-alone pediatric eye care clinic in spring 2027. - The future clinic is expected to house the full pediatric team in one child-focused setting. - The practice said the setup is designed to maximize access for families while the permanent clinic is being completed. - Pediatric referrals can be faxed to 503-557-4799. - Patients can call 503-344-5100 for appointments and general inquiries. - More information is available on the company's website.

Between the lines: - EyeHealth Northwest is signaling a move toward a more integrated pediatric care model. - Adding both ophthalmology and optometry capacity under one roof may reduce handoffs for families needing specialized evaluation. - The scheduled split between two offices suggests the practice is trying to cover demand now while building out a longer-term pediatric center. - Dr. Charles Bock, a pediatric ophthalmologist at EyeHealth Northwest, said the team is excited to expand access to pediatric ophthalmic care in an area where the services are greatly needed.

What's next: - EyeHealth Northwest will continue seeing pediatric patients at the Milwaukie and Peterkort offices until the new clinic opens. - The stand-alone pediatric clinic is anticipated to open in spring 2027. - The practice expects the expanded team to streamline referrals so children can be seen more quickly by the right specialist.

The bottom line: - EyeHealth Northwest is expanding pediatric eye care now and building a dedicated clinic for later, aiming to improve access and speed care for children in the Portland region.