Becoming a Malik Doctor, or in this case, Dr. Ayesha Malik, a distinguished pediatric optometrist at the renowned Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), wasn’t just a career choice—it was a deeply personal calling. Working within the esteemed Division of Ophthalmology, Dr. Malik brings a unique blend of expertise and empathy to her young patients.
Dr. Malik’s path to pediatric optometry began in her own childhood. She recounts, “As a child I never realized I had a vision problem until I failed a vision screening.” This pivotal moment, followed by an eye exam and the introduction of glasses, dramatically changed her world. “My world has been brighter from that day forward,” she shares, emphasizing the profound impact of clear vision. This experience ignited a lifelong passion, driving her to dedicate her professional life to ensuring that no child is deprived of the gift of sight. Her personal journey fuels her commitment to every young patient she sees at CHOP.
While Dr. Malik is adept at caring for children of all ages, she finds particular fulfillment in the intricacies of diagnosing and treating preschool-aged children. This age group presents unique challenges as they often cannot articulate or identify letters reliably. “Preschool children are not always able to reliably identify letters, so we have to use our objective skills to determine whether there is a vision problem that can be corrected by glasses,” Dr. Malik explains. Her expertise in objective assessment techniques is crucial in uncovering vision issues in these young patients who cannot yet fully express their visual experiences.
Dr. Malik is also a strong advocate for leveraging technological advancements in vision care. She is particularly enthusiastic about the increasing sophistication of vision screenings conducted by pediatricians and schools. These enhanced screenings are leading to earlier diagnoses of vision problems in children, allowing for timely intervention. Thanks to these advancements, specialists like Dr. Malik are seeing cases of amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, at stages where correction is highly achievable. Early detection and intervention are key to preventing long-term vision impairment, and Dr. Malik is at the forefront of this proactive approach.
“I am excited by the idea of using the power of refraction — bending of light — by way of glasses to help bring focused light into kids’ eyes to help them see clearly,” Dr. Malik states. She eloquently describes the fundamental role of glasses in focusing light to enable clear vision, which is crucial for visual development. She further elaborates on the critical link between early childhood vision and brain development: “Ultimately, clear vision in early childhood ensures each eye makes a connection with the part of the brain that is responsible for vision and, so through the work I do I play a role in the development of vision with the brain.” Dr. Malik’s work extends beyond simply correcting eyesight; it is about fostering the healthy development of the visual pathways in the brain.
Above all, Dr. Malik’s overarching goal is to instill confidence in families entrusting their children’s care to CHOP. She concludes, “I hope that families come away knowing that we are committed to doing everything possible to ensure their child’s eyes are healthy and their visual development is optimized.” For parents seeking a compassionate and highly skilled malik doctor specializing in pediatric optometry, Dr. Ayesha Malik at CHOP represents the pinnacle of dedicated and expert eye care for children.
