A visit to an eye doctor can help determine if your child has eyesight problems. One eye condition that typically develops in childhood is amblyopia or “lazy eye,” which occurs when one eye lags behind the other in development.
Reduced Vision in One Eye
Lazy eye is characterized by the lack of ability of one eye to focus well. During the critical period of a child’s development, which is from birth to six years of age, both eyes should to receive clear images. Any interferences happening in either eye within this phase can result in amblyopia.
Lazy eye doesn’t manifest right away. It typically starts with one eye developing a refractive error while the other doesn’t. Eventually, the brain starts to ignore signals from the “weaker” eye.
Treatment Options
A comprehensive eye exam is needed to diagnose amblyopia. Once diagnosed, there are several treatment options. For example, eyeglasses can be prescribed for children suffering from myopia or hyperopia, which can also help with amblyopia. If a child is found to have strabismus or misalignment of one eye, the eye doctor may prescribe a non-invasive treatment program involving a set of exercises to correct and train the affected eye. This is called vision therapy.
Another treatment option is surgery. This is sometimes recommended when a child is diagnosed with stimulus deprivation amblyopia, which is caused by either a corneal disease or an injury that resulted in a corneal scar. Children with cataract contracted at birth or droopy eyelids (ptosis) may be advised to undergo the procedure.
Opti-Care is your go-to eye care center for the whole family. Give us a call at (410) 600-3173 for more information. We offer a wide range of services, including eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions, dry eye treatments and pre- and post-LASIK care and management. We serve Westminster, MD, residents.