30 Aug LAZY EYE DIAGNOSIS: WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A PARENT
If your child experiences any vision loss it will, of course, be a concern to you as a parent. All parents want their children to be nothing but happy and healthy. Detecting vision loss in young children is especially hard as not all signs and symptoms flash out at you, and it is rare for a child to know when something is wrong. That is why it is important to have as much information as possible when it comes to your children’s eye health so that you can take action against symptoms at their early stage.
WHAT IS A LAZY EYE?
Lazy eye (Amblyopia) is an eye condition in which vision is either reduced or blurry and is not correctable by glasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery. Most that have been diagnosed with a lazy eye experience a loss of depth perception and two-eyed 3D vision.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LAZY EYE?
Lazy eye is an eye condition that is particularly common in younger children. Lazy eye is the outcome of developmental problems in the brain. When the parts of the brain concerned with visual processing do not function properly, problems ensue with such visual functions as the perception of movement, depth, and fine detail.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR
The main reason why lazy eye is so common is because there are a large number of different possible causes. It is important to watch out for signs of vision problems in young children because there are many factors that can affect children’s visual development during the first six years of life.
THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF LAZY EYE ARE:
- When the muscles behind the eyes become imbalanced it may lead to a constant turn of one eye in any direction. An inward turn or crossed eyes are more common. This is called strabismus.
- A difference in vision or prescription between the two eyes. This is called anisometropia.
- A physical blockage of an eye due to cataract, trauma, lid droop, blocked tear duct, etc.
UNCOMMON CAUSES:
- Congenital disorders
- Vitamin A deficiency
TREATING A LAZY EYE
Due to the many causes of Lazy Eye and their severity, the treatment process will vary. The most common approach is to weaken the stronger eye in order to trick the brain into focusing on the weaker eye’s messages. This can be done with a patch over the stronger eye or utilizing eye drops to blur the vision in the stronger eye.
When Lazy Eye is caused by issues with vision like nearsightedness or astigmatism, the correcting process may be done with glasses.
Surgery is usually only suggested if the problem stems from the eyes muscles or your child has a cataract. The performed surgery are very routine and safe and provide a fast track to vision improvement.
If you are concerned that your child may be developing a lazy, consult your optometrist right away. Dr. D’Orio and Associates are optical professionals that have experience working with young children and the development of eyes. Contact them today to book an appointment for a full eye exam.
For more information on other vision issues that may affect your child’s eyesight visit our blog post – 6 Warning Signs Of Vision Problems In Kids.
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