Amblyopia

Amblyopia, also known as a “lazy eye”, is described as a reduced vision in one eye compared to the other. There are some rare forms of amblyopia that involve both eyes. Amblyopia is the most common cause of partial or total blindness in one eye in children.

The term lazy eye is misleading because the eye is not actually lazy. In fact, it is a developmental problem in the nerve connecting the eye to the brain, affecting the brain’s ability to use both eyes together. It is not a problem in the eye itself, but in the brain which actively ignores the visual input from the misaligned eye, leading to amblyopia in that eye.

In addition to poor visual acuity, people with amblyopia are more prone to having difficulties with depth perception, eye movements related to reading, and visual decision making while driving.

What Are The Causes of Amblyopia?

Amblyopia develops in childhood due to:

• Significant differences in the prescription (refractive) status between the two eyes due to nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism;
• Constantly misaligned eyes or crossed eyes (strabismus);
• An obstruction of vision in early childhood i.e. cataract, ptosis (droopy eyelid)

It is important to note that, because amblyopia is typically a problem of infant vision development, symptoms of the condition can be difficult to detect. Symptoms may include noticeably favoring one eye over the other, an eye turn (either upward-downward outward or inward) or a tendency to bump into objects on one side.

The best way to identify children who are at risk for or already have amblyopia is by performing comprehensive eye examinations.

Signs and Symptoms of Amblyopia

Schedule an eye exam if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms:

• Shutting one eye or squinting
• Rubbing eyes often
• Poor eye-hand coordination
• Tripping often or accident prone
• Difficulty with fine eye movements
• Reduce reading speed and comprehension
• Poor eye focusing skills
• A cross-eyed appearance
• Unusual eye movements such as flickering or blinking

When should children be checked for Amblyopia?

Amblyopia often starts before there are any obvious signs that something is wrong. This is why babies and young children should have their eyes regularly checked. According to research, children should have eye examinations at the following times:

• Before the child is 3 months old
• Between 6 months and 1 year of age
• At 3 years of age
• At 5 years of age

If there are any concerns that the child may be suffering from or developing a “lazy eye,” have him/her examined right away. Children with a family history of amblyopia are at a higher risk for developing it themselves.

Early diagnosing and treating increases the chance for a complete recovery. Amblyopia will not go away on its own. If not diagnosed until the preteen, teen or adult years, treatment will take longer and is often less effective. The sooner the treatment begins, the better.

How Is Amblyopia Treated?

Amblyopia can be treatable at any age, although the earlier the problem is found and treated, the more successful the outcomes tend to be.

Many children who have anisometropia or unequal vision, do not know they have an eye problem because the stronger eye and the brain compensate for that shortage. Over time, the weaker eye gets progressively worse, and amblyopia develops.

Vision Therapy has been proven effective in the treatment of Amblyopia and the improvement of the visual skills necessary for binocular vision.

The earlier a vision problem is found and treated, the better off your child will be in and out of school

That is why it is so important for kids to have regular eye exams with an optometrist. Our doctors are very experienced working with children of all ages. Come visit us at 7427 Brandford Pl Ste 2, Sugar Land, TX or call us on (281) 313-2020 to schedule an appointment for your loved one.