Amblyopia is a medical term for Lazy Eye which is a common eye problem that affects small children. Despite people calling it a lazy eye, it is not much of a problem with the eye but with how the brain has learned to appreciate and see vision with the affected eye. So, it would not hurt to say it is a neurological condition.
Having amblyopia means that the affected eye is not able to see very well in general. Oftentimes, one eye sees very clear and sharp and the other eye sees everything very blurry. Lazy eyes are the most common vision issues that happen to small kids. It is rare but lazy eyes can affect both eyes at the same time.
Early diagnosis and correct treatment are very necessary to prevent long-term issues with your child’s vision. That issue is often corrected with patching therapy or glasses and contact lenses in general.
A lazy eye is a vision condition that affects one eye when a child is an infant or young. If left untreated, it can get worse, leading to permanent vision damage of the child. A child who has amblyopia has clear vision in one eye and blurry in the other.
Talking about its science, it starts happening when the brain starts ignoring the blurry eye and puts its entire focus on the clear eye. Lazy eye has become the most common reason for small children to lose their vision. In kids younger than 15, it affects around 5% of people younger than 15.
Because of that, their weaker eye’s vision gets worse over time. Because of its seriousness, it requires early detection and treatment from eye care specialists.
You can not always tell if your child is suffering from amblyopia. Sadly, most parents don’t know their kids are suffering from amblyopia until an eye care specialist gives them an eye exam. If you have any doubts or see any symptoms, you’ll know how the child interacts with objects and space around themselves.
You may see these symptoms in a child who has amblyopia:
In amblyopia, one eye doesn’t develop normal vision normally because it can not coordinate with the other well-functioning eye. Since it is more of a neurological and vision issue, it does not have a physical appearance.
Even the affected eye may look very normal. Therefore most parents will never know that their child is suffering from this. Mostly, a comprehensive eye exam can reveal the differences in vision between the two eyes.
Since a physical symptom is lacking in this condition, it is better if you take your child to the doctor if you doubt anything.
Amblyopia occurs when your child’s eye is different from the other in terms of how they focus on objects they look at. Some of the most common causes of amblyopia are other vision problems or even structural issues with eyes including:
Also known scientifically as strabismus, an imbalance in the muscles that position the eyes has to be the most common cause of lazy eye. This imbalance makes the eyes cross in or turn out and prevents them from working together.
This happens due to a child’s eyes' natural inability to focus which will result in blurred vision. Amblyopia mostly occurs in children who have refractive errors like:
To battle these errors, the doctor might suggest glasses to your child. Unfortunately, some children can develop lazy eye due to a combination of strabismus and refractive problems.
If it affects the functioning of the child's eyes The child's vision becomes blurred. causing blurred vision They can:
Unfortunately, any child can develop a lazy eye. There are, however, some factors that make kids more likely to experience lazy eyes. They are:
Amblyopia is not a regular vision problem. If ignored and left untreated, it may lead to several complications:
With a lack of required treatment, the affected eye may never gain normal vision which can ultimately lead to permanent visual impairment.
Amblyopia affects a child’s depth perception. It makes it hard for them to judge distance and coordinate hand-eye movements.
Because amblyopia gives the child constant eye strain and focusing issues, that can directly cause headaches and fatigue.
A person might not develop a good-esteem and that may lead to awkward social interactions, mainly in activities that may need good vision like some sports and driving.
Only an eye care specialist can diagnose amblyopia. What they do is they screen all kids for amblyopia during their regular checkups. That follows with an eye checkup to check the child’s eyes( including inside). They will also check how strong is your child’s vision.
After that, the eye doctor will look for anything that is affecting the child’s ability to work like they are supposed to. Sometimes, even before you diagnose lazy eye at home, the specialist may spot them.
Sadly, many kids are so young that they won’t know what’s wrong with their eyes. They can not even communicate with their parents that they are getting blurry vision before anyone else notices the symptoms.
Parents must be aware of any changes like how the child holds their head or interacts with objects near them. If you fail to notice any symptoms, you can ask your doctors to check to ensure everything is okay.
The ophthalmologist will treat lazy eye by making the child’s brain use their weaker eye to see. That is a great way of repairing and strengthening the connection between the child’s brain and both eyes to eventually treat lazy eyes.
An eye specialist will mainly use these treatments:
There is a lot of misconception that kids are asked to wear a patch to their affected area to heal their amblyopia. It is actually the opposite of it. The child needs to wear a patch that covers their normal eye for at least a few hours a day.
When the stronger eye’s vision is blocked the child’s brain is forced to see and use images from their weaker eyes. That way, the weaker eye gets stronger and starts functioning properly.
If the lazy eye is due to some refractive errors, wearing glasses can correct it. Once the child’s vision gets better, their brain will start focusing on both eyes equally. At the same time, the child may need glasses or some other sort of treatment.
The eye doctor might put some eye drops usually atropine into your kid’s strong eye. That helps in blurring the eye temporarily and that forces their brain to use the weaker eye. One thing about these drops is that they are extremely safe and will not affect the child’s vision.
Amblyopia rarely needs surgery. However, if the child has serious problems such as cataracts or other structural problems. With eyes that need surgery for blurred vision only... If surgery is necessary Your eye care professional will let you know what type of surgery your child needs and what to expect.
Most of the kids require lazy eye treatment for at least a few months which can be quite hard for them. No matter what kind of treatment they need, make sure, you as a parent or guardian make them stick to it as long as the doctor has asked to.
Kids might find it extremely difficult to get used to changes in their eyes when going through amblyopia treatments. Be gentle and remind your child why it is necessary to wear glasses, or eye watch, or put on eye drops. Also, encourage them to use the weaker eyes as much as they can.
It is normal for your child and you to feel discouraged sometimes. Never forget that you both are trying hard to improve their vision.
Amblyopia is a common problem that affects children's vision. Although some people might call it lazy eye. But there is nothing lazy about your child or their eyes Remember: Amblyopia is a disease that cannot be prevented but can be cured in most cases.
The best way to detect amblyopia early is a routine vision test. Ask your healthcare provider about examining your child's eyes at every checkup. Your provider or eye care professional will correct the amblyopia and recommend treatment that will help restore your child's vision as much as possible. If you have any concerns about your child’s vision, with or without any signs, you can consult with our professional eye specialists here at Vision Concern.
Ans: There is no evidence that an eye exercise can be treated or fixed with a certain type of exercise. However, your child’s eye care specialist might suggest that you encourage your child to do some specific tasks like playing games and solving puzzles while they are weaning eye patches or using eye drops.
These activities will certainly make the connection between the brain and the weaker eye better. There are no specific eye exercises to treat amblyopia.
Ans: Unfortunately, you can not prevent your child from amblyopia or other similar vision issues that come as a result. What you can do as a responsible parent is to take them for a regular eye checkup.
Yes, we provide emergency eye care for conditions like eye injuries, sudden vision loss, and infections. If you experience any urgent eye problems, please contact us immediately, and our team will assist you in getting the care you need.
Signs to watch for include blurry vision, floaters, sudden loss of vision, eye pain, redness, or sensitivity to light. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an eye exam at Vision Concern Eye Clinic as soon as possible for early diagnosis and treatment.
If you’re experiencing blurred vision, headaches, or eye strain, it may be a sign that you need glasses or contact lenses. Our eye exams will help determine whether you need corrective lenses. We’ll also discuss your options based on your lifestyle and preferences, including glasses, contacts, or even refractive surgery like LASIK.
