I Was Told My Child Has A Lazy Eye.
Amblyopia is a vision development disorder that occurs in childhood and is characterized by reduced vision in one or both eyes. It is often referred to as "lazy eye," although this term is somewhat inaccurate as the eye itself is not actually lazy. Amblyopia is the result of the brain and eyes not working together properly. The brain favors the eye it is easier to see out of, and ignores the eye that has to work harder to produce clear vision. If left untreated, amblyopia can lead to permanently decreased vision in the weaker eye if it is not addressed. Amblyopia is caused by an abnormal visual experience during the period of visual development that occurs between the ages of 3 and 9, however, amblyopia can be diagnosed at even younger ages. The good news, is we can do something about it!
Who gets amblyopia?
Amblyopia is a common condition, affecting about 2-3% of the population or occuring in about 1 of 68 children. It is more common in children who have a family history of the condition, or who have other eye conditions such as strabismus (misalignment of the eyes) or a significant difference in the refractive error between the two eyes (anisometropia).
How do I know if my child has a lazy eye?
Diagnosis of amblyopia involves a comprehensive children’s eye exam, which includes measuring visual acuity, eye muscle function, and determining a prescription for the potential need for glasses. If a diagnosis of amblyopia is suspected by the optometrist, the best practice is to dilate the child’s eyes.
This is for 2 reasons:
A dilated eye examination allows the eye doctor to gain a much clearer view of the back of the eye it is normal and healthy. Your optometrist will want to make sure there isn’t an eye health concern that is causing the child not to see as well as they should be.
A side effect of the dilation drops is they temporarily relax the muscle that allows the eye to change focus. This is a beneficial side effect because it allows your optometrist to get a much more accurate prescription for the child. A common question is how does my optometrist know what the prescription is, if my kid cannot reliably read numbers or letters? We have specialized instruments we can use that are non invasive to help us. The eye drops also make these tests much more accurate.
What causes amblyopia?
Generally speaking there are 3 categories of amblyopia.
Refractive Amblyopia.
Refractive amblyopia is caused by a significant difference in the prescription between the two eyes. If one eye is significantly more nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic than the other, it can cause the brain to favor one eye, leading to the development of amblyopia in the weaker eye.
Strabismic Amblyopia.
Strabismic amblyopia is caused by misalignment of the eyes, this is also known as strabismus. When the eyes are misaligned, the brain receives two different images from the eyes. This can cause confusion, leading to the brain suppressing the image from the weaker eye. This can result in the development of amblyopia in the weaker eye. Strabismic amblyopia can be treated by correcting the misalignment of the eyes with glasses, eye patches, or surgery. In some cases, a combination of treatments may be necessary.
Deprivational Amblyopia.
Deprivational amblyopia, is caused by a blockage or obstruction in the visual pathway, such as a cataract or scar tissue on the cornea. This can cause reduced visual experience during critical periods of visual development, leading to the development of amblyopia in the affected eye.
How do you treat Amblyopia?
In most cases the first method used to treat amblyopia involves putting the child’s best possible prescription in front of their eyes using glasses. Your optometrist will then recheck the child’s vision in 3-4 months after wearing the glasses full time. In some cases if there isn’t a large improvement in the child’s vision your optometrist may want to start patching. Patching works by forcing the weaker eye to work harder. Lots of research has been done on the best way to use patching as a treatment. Most of the time we encourage consistent patching for 2 hours every night while doing a near activity such as drawing, coloring or reading along with regular check ups at the optometrist office. The recommendation is not have children wear their patch full time or to school. Your optometrist at Helio optometry will give you a detailed treatment plan with instructions if it is required. Treatment is most effective when started at a young age, so it is important to have children's eyes examined annually to detect any vision problems early on.
When identified early and the appropriate treatment plan is put in place, amblyopia can be easily managed and we can produce a significant improvement to the child’s visual potential. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to help improve vision and prevent further vision loss. It is important for parents to pay attention to their child's vision development, listen to feedback from their teachers and seek medical attention if they notice any vision problems.
