This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
It’s important to have your child’s vision checked regularly by a qualified eye care professional.
Amblyopia, often called “lazy eye,” is a vision development disorder where one eye doesn’t achieve normal visual acuity, even with the use of prescription glasses or contact lenses. The brain fails to process the images from the weaker eye properly, and over time, the brain may start to favor the stronger eye, causing the vision in the amblyopic eye to become progressively poorer. Approximately 3-5% of children are affected by amblyopia.
It typically develops in childhood and can be caused by several factors, including:
- Strabismus (misalignment of the eyes): One eye may turn in, out, up, or down, leading the brain to ignore the input from the misaligned eye.
- Refractive errors: Significant differences in prescription between the two eyes (such as one eye being more nearsighted or farsighted than the other).
- Cataracts or other eye conditions: Anything that blocks or distorts the image coming from one eye can result in amblyopia.
Primary prevention
The key to prevention is detection. There are numerous techniques to detect amblyopia, all with varying degrees of specificity, sensitivity, complexity, and cost. These include a complete ophthalmic examination. Early detection and treatment are important to help correct amblyopia. Treatment may include wearing glasses or contact lenses, patching the stronger eye to strengthen the weaker eye or other interventions to address the underlying cause. If left untreated, amblyopia can lead to permanent vision loss in the affected eye.
Remember, these are just general guidelines. Every child develops at their own pace, so it’s important to consult with a qualified professional, ophthalmologist for any concerns you may have about your child’s vision.