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Amblyopia
is a term used to describe an uncorrectable
loss of vision in an eye that appears to be
normal. It’s commonly referred to as “lazy
eye” and can occur for a variety of
reasons.
A
child’s visual system is fully developed
between approximately the ages of 9-11.
Until then, children readily adapt to visual
problems by suppressing or blocking out the
image. If caught early, the problem can
often be corrected and the vision
preserved. However, after about age 11, it
is difficult if not impossible to train the
brain to use the eye normally.
Signs & Symptoms
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Poor vision in one or both eyes
-
Squinting or closing one eye while
reading or watching television
-
Crossed or turned eye
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Turning or tilting the head when looking
at an object
Children rarely complain of poor vision.
They are able to adapt very easily to most
visual impairments. Parents must be very
observant of young children and should have
a routine eye exam performed by the age of
2-3 to detect potential problems.
Treatments
The treatment for amblyopia depends on the
underlying problem. In some cases, the
strong eye is temporarily patched so the
child is forced to use the weaker eye. For
children with problems relating to a
refractive error, glasses may be necessary
to correct vision. Problems that impair
vision such as cataracts or droopy eyelids
often require surgery. Regardless of the
treatment required, it is of utmost
importance that intervention is implemented
as early as possible before the child’s
brain learns to permanently suppress or
ignore the eye.
Call Eyes Over Texas Eye Care Center
at 281-398-0747 to schedule your
consultation today or use our
convenient
online
appointment/consultation request
form. |
