Amblyopia
It is no coincidence that many children with amblyopia report problems with homework or participating in physical education. Amblyopia - a problem in the way the brain interprets visual images of one or both eyes - makes it harder for children to do things like read a table from a distance or catch a ball.
Amblyopia often goes undetected for months or even years, because parents to poor grades or athletic ability to not gifted chalk a child in the scientific or athletic. But sometimes the solution is as simple as visiting the eye doctor.
Can correct the treatment of amblyopia, how the brain processes visual images, and ultimately strengthen vision. The earlier treatment begins, the better. Could wait or not getting a correct diagnosis for a child to vision loss across the board irreversible.
About Amblyopia
Amblyopia or "lazy eye," is a condition in which the eye and the brain are not working together as they should.
From birth to approximately 6 years, important links between a child's eyes and brain are formed. Anything that can then inhibit or blurred vision in one or both eyes or block the development of these compounds. This can lead to the brain is not fully detect the images seen from either or both eyes.
When this happens, the brain begins to ignore or suppress the images of the otherwise healthy eye seen, and the eye is weaker, losing vision strength (acuity). The eye is then as "amblyopic."
Causes
The most common cause of amblyopia is strabismus or migrate from one or both eyes either inward (called esotropia), outward (called exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia).
If the eyes are aligned with the dominant eye is right or straight. The vision strength (sharpness) of the straight eye remains normal because the eye and its connection to the brain normally work. The misaligned or weaker eye does not focus properly and the brain suppresses or ignores her signal, eventually leading to amblyopia.
Not all children with amblyopia have crossed or wandering eyes - in fact, many eyes are properly aligned. If so, amblyopia is usually the result of an anatomical or structural abnormality that interferes with or blocks vision, like a droopy eyelid or a cataract.
Another cause of amblyopia is severe farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia) or astigmatism (a form of visual impairment). This cause blurred vision ("refractive errors") vision, and it is this blurred images that are sent to the brain. Over time, the brain begins to ignore or suppress these images unclear what. Amblyopia in one or both eyes
Another cause could be with different strengths vision in each eye - a condition known as anisometropia. When one eye sees more clearly than the other, the brain may ignore or suppress the vision of blurry eyes.
Genetics plays a role. Amblyopia tends to run in families. It is also more common in children born prematurely or suffer from developmental delays.
Signs and symptoms
Most children with amblyopia do not complain of vision problems. Over time, they will be accustomed with good vision in one eye and poor vision in the other.
It is usually a parent or teacher of a child with a vision problem noticed fight - whether realizing it, squinting to see better, frequent blinking, or tilting the head. Some children demonstrate poor depth perception (stereopsis) and difficulty seeing in 3D.
Treatment
Treating amblyopia involves forcing the brain to pay attention to the images of the amblyopic or weaker eye to pay to make this vision in this eye is stronger. This is performed by lenses, eye patch, or drop operation, or a combination of these treatments:
Glasses. Glasses are prescribed if amblyopia due to refractive errors and / or anisometropia (when one eye sees more clearly than the other) is caused. Glasses help send a clear, crisp images to the brain, they teach is "on" on the weaker eye. This allows the brain use of the eyes and develop normal vision.
Patches. In many cases the children affected by amblyopia must wear an opaque eye patch over their stronger or unaffected eye. The patch is worn for 2-6 hours a day, while the child is awake for several months or years, depending on the severity of the disease. There are two types of eye flaps: the first type acts as a patch and is placed directly on the eye. The second type, designed specifically for children who wear glasses, this is a patch that fits securely on a lens cloth.
For parents, the enforcement of the use of an eye patch might seem difficult. But children usually good at, after an initial adjustment period, and the patch is simply part of their day. In the meantime, distraction can a new or exciting toys, a trip to the park, or just playing outside help children forget they wear an eye patch.
Atropine drops. Sometimes, despite parental efforts, some children simply refuse to wear their eye patch. In these cases, atropine drops are used as an alternative to patches. Just as a patch does not block the vision in the eye or straight, atropine drops will temporarily blur the vision in the strong eye, forcing the brain to recognize the weaker eye seen from the pictures.
Surgery. If strabismus is the cause of a child's amblyopia and treatment with glasses, patches or drops not to improve the alignment of the eyes, eye muscle surgery may be an option. Surgery may also be done if amblyopia is caused by a drooping eyelid or cataract.
Surgery involves loosening or tightening of the muscles, causing the eye to wander. Although it is an invasive procedure, is a surgical procedure are as safe and effective and usually does not require an overnight hospital stay.
Eye Exams Essential for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Kids reach visual maturity of about 8 years old, then vision problems can difficult to treat. The sooner amblyopia is diagnosed and treated, the better are the chances to restore vision and prevent permanent vision loss.
Sometimes there are no obvious signs of a vision problem, so it is important for children to undergo annual eye tests. These tests should begin in the toddler and preschool age, so that problems are caught before a child reaches visual maturity.
Most tests are done eye tests at the pediatrician's office or at school by the school nurse. If problems are found, your child will be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist for further evaluation and treatment.
If your child is due to a vision screening, call your doctor to schedule one.