AMBLYOPIA
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.
Some causes of amblyopia include:
-
strabismus (crossed or turned eye)
-
congenital cataracts
-
cloudy cornea
-
droopy eyelid
-
unequal vision
-
uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
Amblyopia may occur in various
degrees depending on the severity of the underlying
problem. Some patients just experience a partial
loss; others are only able to recognize motion.
Patients with amblyopia lack binocular vision, or
stereopsis – the ability to blend the images of both
eyes together. Stereopsis is what allows us to
appreciate depth. Without it, the ability to judge
distance is impaired.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
-
Poor vision in one or both eyes
-
Squinting or closing one eye while reading or watching television
-
Crossed or turned eye
-
Turning or tilting the head when looking at an object
Note: 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.
DETECTION AND TREATMENT
When amblyopia is suspected, the doctor will
evaluate the following: vision, eye alignment,
eye movements, and fusion (the brain’s ability
to blend two images into a single image).
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.
Ref:
http://www.stlukeseye.com/Conditions/ambylopia.html
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