Amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye, can limit an
individual's vision in subtle ways that even they may not recognize. In this condition,
the vision center of the brain relies more heavily on one eye's input at the
expense of the other eye, reducing the binocular vision that makes depth
perception possible.
Amblyopia tends to appear in early childhood, affecting
about two percent
of the pediatric population. The more you understand about amblyopia, the more
effectively you can seek treatment for your child or even, in some cases, for
an affected adult. Check out these four key points about amblyopia.
1. Amblyopia Can Occur for Many Reasons
Although people refer to amblyopia as lazy eye, the true
problem lies in the way the brain chooses to process the visual data relayed
from the eye in question. Anything that impairs vision in one eye can cause the
brain to rely on clearer images from the other eye, ignoring the images from
the affected eye.
Amblyopia takes three primary forms. In strabismic
amblyopia, the eye muscles cannot bring both eyes into proper alignment. In refractive
amblyopia, a serious refractive error in one eye limits the usefulness of that
eye. In deprivation amblyopia, cataracts, corneal scars, and other barriers
block incoming light to the eye.
2. Amblyopia Sufferers May Not Recognize a Problem
The brain has a remarkable ability to compensate for
incomplete or corrupted sensory data. By emphasizing one eye's information over
another, the brain's visual center can provide the sufferer with enough visual
clarity that the sufferer may not even recognize any limitations, especially in
children who have always had the condition.
For this reason, parents should not only maintain the
pediatric eye appointments recommended by their family eye doctor, but they
must also know how to recognize possible amblyopia symptoms. Look for signs
such as unconscious squinting, head tilting, closing one eye to see more
clearly, and bumping into objects.
3. Your Ophthalmologist Can Confirm a Case of Amblyopia
The earlier a case of amblyopia receives proper diagnosis
and treatment, the better. The most successful treatment occurs before a
patient reaches the age of eight. For this
reason, you should make sure that your child undergoes periodic eye exams
according to your eye doctor's recommended schedule.
The same ophthalmologist that you turn to for medical eye
treatment can also perform a comprehensive eye and vision exam to detect the
source of your child's vision issues, including amblyopia. Children aged three
and older can describe any trouble they have making out shapes or letters on an
eye chart.
Even if your child has not yet reached verbal age, your
ophthalmologist can detect any medical problems in the eyes that might lead to
amblyopia. For instance, illuminated instruments can reveal the presence of a
juvenile cataract or tumor that interferes with the eye's normal function.
4. Amblyopia Can Respond Well to Treatment
While an optometrist can often confirm an amblyopia
diagnosis and provide some forms of treatment, only an ophthalmologist has the
additional ability to administer surgical correction or other extensive medical
treatment as needed. Fortunately, amblyopia often clears up completely with the
right treatment.
The least invasive options for treating amblyopia include
patching, eye drops, and vision therapy. Your ophthalmologist may patch the
more heavily-used eye or apply eye drops containing atropine to temporarily
blur vision in that eye. This strategy forces the brain to use the other eye's
data, encouraging the return of binocular vision.
Vision therapy can prove helpful for kids who suffer from
strabismic amblyopia. Special eyeglasses and eye exercises can help train the
eye muscles to coordinate with each other more accurately and improve eye alignment.
If a physical problem in the eye blocks the eye's ability to
contribute to binocular vision, your ophthalmologist may prescribe surgery.
Examples might include lens replacement surgery to remove a congenital
cataract, corneal surgery to deal with scarring, or tumor removal surgery.
You can count on Calvert Ophthalmology Center as
your entire family's resource for both routine and advanced eye care. Contact
any of our
locations
to schedule an appointment.
