At Swarup Eye Centre, we understand the critical importance of early detection and treatment of amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye.” This condition, if left unaddressed, can significantly impact a child’s visual development and lead to lifelong vision impairment.
What is Amblyopia?
- It’s a condition where the vision in one eye doesn’t develop properly during early childhood.
- The brain favors the stronger eye, and over time, the weaker eye’s vision deteriorates.
- It typically affects one eye, but it can affect both eyes in rare cases.
- It is a very common cause of vision decrease in children. If not treated, it can lead to permanent vision loss.
Causes
- Strabismus (crossed eyes): Misalignment of the eyes is a common cause.
- Refractive errors: Unequal refractive errors (like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism) between the two eyes.
- Deprivation amblyopia: This occurs when something obstructs vision in one eye, such as a cataract or a droopy eyelid (ptosis).
Symptoms
- Reduced vision in one eye.
- Poor depth perception.
- Eye misalignment (in strabismic amblyopia).
- Often there are no obvious symptoms, which is why eye examinations are so important.
Diagnosis
- A comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist is necessary.
- Vision testing is crucial, especially in young children.
Treatment
Early detection and treatment are essential for the best outcomes. Treatment options include:
- Corrective lenses: Glasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors.
- Patching: Covering the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to work harder.
- Technology and Computer-Based Therapies: Advances in technology have led to the development of computer-based vision therapy programs (like Bynocs) to improve vision through interactive and engaging exercises.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct underlying conditions that cause amblyopia, such as strabismus (misaligned eyes) or cataracts.
