Amblyopia is a condition that results when one eye cannot see as well as it should, even with glasses or contact lenses. The good news is that amblyopia can often be successfully treated if it is diagnosed early in life.
To make sure amblyopia and other vision disorders are diagnosed early in life, the American Optometric Association encourages all parents to have their babies’ eyes checked at around six months of age.
Amblyopia begins at a very young age. Sometimes a child with amblyopia may appear to have crossed eyes or one “lazy” eye. But in most cases, the condition is very difficult for parents and other caregivers to detect.
Amblyopia develops when the nerves that connect the eye to the brain are not properly stimulated. This can happen because of physical problems in the eye that cause reduced visual clarity such as congenital cataracts, or because the eyes do not track together which results in double vision.
There are three basic types of amblyopia:
• Strabismic amblyopia
Strabismus occurs when the two eyes fail to work together as a team. If one eye looks toward the nose instead of straight ahead, the child may appear cross-eyed. Strabismus can also cause the straying eye to look out, up, or down.
This misalignment sends a blurred, double image to the brain which causes the brain to ignore the signal from the straying eye. This type of amblyopia is the cause of the common nickname “lazy eye”.
• Refractive amblyopia
A refractive error is something that keeps the eye from focusing correctly. When the vision in one eye is very blurry, either up close or at a distance, the brain may ignore that eye in favor of the clearer image from the other eye. Over time, the blurry eye weakens as the optic nerve remains unstimulated.
• Deprivation amblyopia
When something such as a congenital cataract consistently blocks light from entering the eye, that eye is not able to see clearly. Early treatment of congenital cataracts is critical for baby’s normal vision development.
Treatment for amblyopia varies depending on the cause. If your baby’s eye doctor finds a cataract or other physical problem, he or she may first want to schedule surgery or other treatments as soon as possible.
Amblyopia caused by strabismus requires early treatment for effective correction. Surgery may be needed to adjust the muscles that control eye movement to help the eyes track together.
Treatment for refractive amblyopia typically begins with glasses or contact lenses to correct blurry vision. An eye patch may also be used to help retrain the amblyopic eye. Placing a patch over the “good” eye forces the brain to communicate with the amblyopic eye which can encourage the development of normal vision.
Your child may need to wear the eye patch for several hours or more each day. If your child won’t leave the patch on, alternate treatments include a professionally-fitted contact lens that blocks light from entering the good eye, or atropine eye drops in the good eye that dilate the pupil to make vision in that eye blurry.
In all cases, the earlier amblyopia is diagnosed and treated, the better your baby’s chances will be for normal vision development. If you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s vision, talk to your pediatrician or eye doctor right away.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic. Lazy eye (amblyopia). Web. March 25, 2013.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lazy-eye/DS00887
All About Vision. Amblyopia (Lazy Eye). Gary Heiting, OD. Web. March 25, 2013.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amblyopia.htm
American Optometric Association. Amblyopia (Lazy Eye). Web. March 25, 2013.
http://www.aoa.org/x4699.xml
All About Vision. Infant Vision: Birth to 24 Months. Web. March 25, 2013.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/strabismus.htm
All About Vision. Strabismus. Gary Heiting, OD. Web. March 25, 2013.
http://www.aoa.org/x9420.xml
Reviewed March 27, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith