At Eyes to See, we specialize in the treatment of eye conditions in children. One condition we treat is Amblyopia (commonly referred to as lazy eye). Amblyopia is the most common cause of vision loss in children. Knowing this, we want to help parents whose children have been diagnosed with it to understand what's happening in their child’s eye and what we can do to treat it.
What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia is a condition in which one eye has poorer vision than the other, causing the brain to rely more on the eye with better sight while the vision in the weaker eye becomes worse.
Up to 3 out of 100 kids have amblyopia, and it can occur from birth or develop later in childhood. If diagnosed and treated early, treatment works well and generally prevents long-term issues.
Causes of Amblyopia
The cause of amblyopia can vary from case to case, but it's often caused by other issues with vision. Conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness), strabismus, and cataracts are among those that can lead to amblyopia.
What puts someone at risk for Amblyopia?
Chances of having or developing amblyopia are increased in children who:
Were born prematurely or smaller than average
Have a developmental disability
Have a family history of amblyopia or other conditions that affect the eyes
The Symptoms of Amblyopia
Some symptoms you may notice if your child has amblyopia are:
They have poor depth perception
They tilt their head
They squint or shut one eye
Symptoms of amblyopia can be difficult to notice. Thus, oftentimes parents are unaware that their child has amblyopia until it is diagnosed during an eye exam. For this reason, children should have a vision screening between the ages of 3 and 5 at least once.
How do Doctors Diagnose Amblyopia?
Doctors will usually check for amblyopia during a standard vision screening.
How is Amblyopia Treated?
If the doctor determines that another issue is causing the amblyopia, they may treat that condition first. Then, the amblyopia is treated with a focus on retraining the brain to use the weaker eye. Over time, the weak eye should become stronger and the brain will no longer ignore it.
One of the ways amblyopia is treated is by having your child wear a stick-on eyepatch over their stronger eye. This way, the brain is forced to use the weak eye so it can grow stronger. Some children only need to wear a patch for a few hours a day, while others may need to wear an eyepatch all day.
Another way that amblyopia can be treated is through the use of atropine eye drops. These are used to blur the vision in the stronger eye, causing the brain to rely more on the weak one.
Following treatment, your child’s vision may begin to improve within a few weeks, but it usually takes months to see significant improvements. Even as the amblyopia improves, your child may need to continue intermittent treatments to prevent it from worsening or returning. Amblyopia treatment is usually less effective in adults, so it’s crucial to get a diagnosis and begin treatment as early as possible.
Summary
To summarize, amblyopia (or lazy eye) is an eye condition in which the vision in one eye is worse than in the other, causing the brain to rely more on the eye for better sight. It’s often caused by other issues in the eyes, such as refractive errors or strabismus. Children who were born early or smaller than average, have developmental disabilities, or have a family history of amblyopia and/or other eye issues are more likely to develop amblyopia than others. Symptoms of amblyopia often go unnoticed until a doctor checks for it during an eye exam, which is why kids must have their vision tested at least once when they’re between the ages of 3 and 5. If a child has amblyopia, it can be treated by wearing an eyepatch on their stronger eye or by using atropine eye drops in their stronger eye. Treatment in kids is generally effective within a few weeks or months, but treatment in adults isn’t always as effective. Even if improvements are seen, a child may need to continue amblyopia treatments intermittently to ensure that it doesn’t worsen or come back.
Thank you for reading and we hope that you found this post informative. We understand that it can be alarming to hear that there are issues with your child’s eyes, and we want to help. If your child needs an eye exam, give us a call at 616-796-9995, and we’ll gladly assist you with any questions you may have as well as with setting up an appointment.
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