Nicoline E. Schalij-Delfos is professor in pediatric ophthalmology at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). Apart from that she is head of the outpatient clinics, deputy head of the department of ophthalmology, deputy head ophthalmic education, treasurer of the Dutch Ophthalmological Society (NOG) and European University Professors of Ophthalmology (EUPO), and Associate Editor of Acta Ophthalmologica for pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.

More information about Nicoline Schalij-Delfos

Pedriatric Ophthalmology

Pediatric ophthalmology concerns ophthalmic disease in children under 16 years of age. Main themes in LUMC are prematurity, uveitis, electrophysiology for hereditary and developmental disorders, and surgery for strabismus, cataract and lens subluxation.

A close collaboration with the Willem Alexander Pediatric hospital  and department of genetics (expert center Marfan and neurofibromatosis) is established. Electronic consultation is set up for general ophthalmologists.

The LUMC is expert center for pediatric ophthalmology, especially retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (ORPHA434854) and participates in the European Network for rare eye disease (ERN-EYE).

As chair she was responsible for the development of evidence based guidelines on subjects Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and screening for ophthalmic disease in youth health care (JGZ). For pediatricians and ophthalmologists the NEDROP-app has been developed and a REP-ROP.

The main research theme is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

In 2009 and 2017 a national inventory on screening and treatment of ROP in the Netherlands (NEDROP 1 and 2) was conducted to prevent visual disability. In collaboration with the University of Reijkjavik, a researchproject on oximetry in ROP is established. A prototype camera has been developed to measure oxygenation of the premature retina.

Pediatric ophthalmology participates in the project to develop gene therapy for people with retinal dystrophies due to CRB1 gene mutations with Prof. Dr. C.J.F. Boon.

Other research subjects are  ‘visual function in albinism’ in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. M.M. van Genderen UMCU/Bartiméus.

Academic career

In 1999 she defended her thesis on ophthalmological abnormalities and retinopathy of prematurity: Preterm birth: eyes at risk?!

In 2008 she was appointed professor in pediatric ophthalmology.

Prizes and honourable appointments

President European Pediatric Ophthalmological Society (EPOS) 2010-2013.

Publications