Vision Correction
Amblyopia occurs when there is abnormal vision development in one or both eyes.
Amblyopia is sometimes called a “lazy eye”.
The most important time frame for vision development is before the age of seven. This is when all the connections between the eyes and the brain form.
If a child has an amblyopic eye, the brain won’t form connections to the eye as strongly and this reduces the visual acuity (the eye will not see 20/20).
The types of amblyopia are:
Strabismus: an eye turns in, out, up or down
Refractive: one or both eyes has significant uncorrected glasses prescription
Deprivation: an eye has medical condition preventing clear vision like a congenital abnormality, a scar, a cataract, etc
Common symptoms are squinting, eye strain, headaches, closing an eye, head tilting, short working distances with reading/screens, and even behavioral changes.
Your optometrist will likely recommend a comprehensive eye exam with stronger dilating drops to get the most accurate assessment of your child’s eyes.
Treatments include glasses, contact lenses, eye patching, vision therapy, surgery, or a combination of these options.
The treatment of amblyopia may require more follow up visits.
The brain is an amazing system and often we can increase visual acuity in an amblyopic eye even after the age of 7! So it is never too late to initiate treatment.
