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What is Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Amblyopia is an eye problem that causes poor
vision in children. It’s also called
 “lazy eye.”
Amblyopia
usually affects one of the eyes, but
sometimes it can also reduce vision in both
eyes. The problem starts when the pathways that
carry vision messages from one of the eyes to
the brain don't grow strong enough. The brain
then favors the other eye, and the child’s vision
does not develop normally. Amblyopia is the
most common cause of vision problems in children.
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What Causes Amblyopia
All child are born with poor eyesight. As child
grow, their eyesight gets better. Good eyesight
needs a clear, focused image that is the same
in both eyes. If the image isn't clear in one
eye, or if the image isn't the same in both
eyes, the vision pathways don't develop right.
In fact, the pathways may actually get worse.
Anything that happens to blur the vision or
cause the eyes to be crossed during childhood
may cause amblyopia. For example, the image
might be different in both eyes if the child
has
strabismus. Strabismus (also called "crossed
eyes") causes the eyes to not focus in the same
direction. Children who need glasses to see
better, or have cataracts, a droopy eyelid,
or crossed or wandering eyes may also get amblyopia.
How is Amblyopic Treated
Because there are several causes of amblyopia, the treatment
must match the problem. Glasses or contact lenses fix some problems.
Surgery may be needed for cataracts, droopy eyelids or crossed
eyes. After the cause of the amblyopia is found, the child will
need to use the weaker eye most of the time, so it will get
stronger. To make the child use the weaker eye, a patch can
be put over the stronger eye. Sometimes, eye drops or special
glasses are used to blur the vision in the stronger eye. This
makes the weaker eye become stronger. Patches may be used all
day or part of the day, depending on the child's age and vision.
The treatment usually lasts until vision is normal, or until
vision stops getting better. For most children, this takes several
weeks. A few children need to use eye patches until they are
8 to 10 years old.
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Why is early Treatment Important
The vision pathways in the brain must become strong early, when
children are very young. The first few years of life are the
most important for eyesight. After a child is 8 to 10, the brain's
vision system is complete. It can't develop anymore. If the
amblyopia hasn't been treated by this age, the child will have
poor vision for life. It won't be possible to fix it with glasses,
patching or any other treatment.
There's a small chance that using an eye patch for too long
can hurt the strong eye. For this reason, children who are wearing
eye patches should see their doctor often during the treatment.
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