Overview
Lazy eye is an eye condition that affects the vision of the affected person. A child may have amblyopia (or lazy eye ) in one eye or both eyes. If one of the eyes is weaker, the brain begins ignoring the blurry eye and starts using the normal stronger one. It allows the blurry eye to get lazy because it is less active. It can be corrected if diagnosed and managed in time. Many treatments are available to correct this medical condition.
What Is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia or lazy eye is a disorder related to vision. In this condition, the brain fails to fully process the signals from one eye or both eyes. This could happen because of multiple reasons. There is interference in brain-eye coordination, and as a result, the brain fails to recognize images from one eye. It is called the lazy eye because the other eye works appropriately. Amblyopia starts in early childhood, and it is one of the common causes of vision loss among children.
How Will You Know That Your Child Has Amblyopia?
Symptoms and signs of amblyopia or lazy eye can be hard to notice. Kids with the condition of amblyopia may experience the following signs and symptoms:-
- An eye wandering inward or outward.
- Head tilting.
- Poor depth perception.
- Squinting of one eye.
- Eyes that appear not to work together.
- Crossed eye appearance.
- Watering
- May close one eye to accomplish some sharpness in the vision.
What Are The Reasons For Amblyopia In Your Child?
- Generally, lazy eyes (Amblyopia) develop because of improper visual experience in early life that can change the nerve pathway between the retina (a thin layer of tissue present at the back of the eye) and the brain.
- Anything that can blur the vision of a child can lead to a lazy eye.
- The most common reason for lazy eye is due to the imbalance of the muscles controlling the eye position. This imbalance can prevent the eyes from working together.
- A problem with one eye, like a cataract (a cloudy area in the lens), can prevent the clear vision of the eyes. It is the most severe type of lazy eye, if untreated in time.
What Are The Treatment Options Available For Amblyopia?
The treatment options available for amblyopia depend upon the cause of lazy eye and the severity of amblyopia. Some methods are :-
- Eye Patch/ Occlusion therapy : To stimulate the weaker eye, the child is asked to wear a patch on the stronger eye for 2 to 6 hours per day. In rare cases wearing this patch for too long a time can also trigger amblyopia. So a weekly break is advisable.
- Bangerter filter: This is a special filter placed over the lens of the eye. It works similarly to eye patches.
- Surgery: A child might need surgery if the eyes of the child are still wandering and have a droopy eyelid with the appropriate eyeglasses.
Is Your Child At Increased Risk Of Developing Amblyopia?
Some children are born with amblyopia, and some develop it later after birth. The chance of getting a kid affected by amblyopia is higher in children who :-
- Have developmental disabilities.
- Premature birth (kids who are born early)
- Were smaller than another child at the time of birth
- Have a family history of cataracts, amblyopia, high myopia or other eye conditions.
Conclusion
Amblyopia is a serious eye condition and must be treated within time to be able to see the world in a 3- dimensional way. Amblyopia needs early diagnosis and appropriate management. It is a treatable condition and early treatment ensures a good prognosis.
