Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Is your child falling behind in school?
What is amblyopia or lazy eye?
Amblyopia is the lack of development of vision in one or both eyes.
Who is likely to develop amblyopia?
Amblyopia is the result of poor visual development and usually develops before the age of six. It is estimated that 3-5% of children under six have amblyopia.
What causes amblyopia?
Amblyopia is mostly caused by either: 1. A large difference in the prescription between the two eyes 2. High prescriptions present early in childhood 3. A crossed eye 4. A congenital health problem in the eyes such as congenital cataract
It is the lack of neural connections between the brain and the eye that causes the eye to become lazy or amblyopic.
What are the signs or symptoms of amblyopia?
Usually, there are NO symptoms of amblyopia. Often, one eye will see better than the other and the better seeing eye then compensates for the poor vision in the amblyopic eye. Some children may have poorer eye-hand coordination, poorer depth perception or poorer academic performance as a result of amblyopia.
How can amblyopia be detected?
We recommend a comprehensive eye examination on all children prior to the start of junior kindergarten. Children do NOT need to know their letters in order to have their eyes examined. The earlier amblyopia is detected, the greater the chances for complete recovery.
Children’s eye exams are covered by OHIP.
Do not mistake a school screening for an eye exam. School screenings are not conducted by licensed eye care professionals and simply require children to read letters.
How can amblyopia be treated?
The treatment of amblyopia can vary depending on the initial cause. A combination of eyeglasses and lazy eye therapy help treat this condition. In some instances, certain drops, eye exercises or surgery can be necessary.
Call us at 519-307-7771 to schedule your child’s next eye exam. Our clinic is pediatric friendly and wheelchair accessible.
