Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, begins in childhood and is the most frequent cause of visual problems in kids. Two out of every 100 hundred children are diagnosed with the disease, according to the National Eye Institute. If the condition goes untreated, it can lead to permanent vision impairment in adulthood.
Definition
Amblyopia describes a loss of vision in one eye because the brain is not using it correctly. Normally, both the brain and the eye must work together in order for an individual to make sense of what is seen. In individuals with amblyopia, the brain ignores the eye that can't see well and gradually the other eye gains strength. This causes the impaired eye to become even more lazy from lack of use.
Causes
The organization Prevent Blindness America notes that whenever visual development is abnormally affected, amblyopia may result. A common cause, called strabismus, involves the alignment of the eyes. Individuals with strabismus have eyes that are not positioned properly in relation to each other. This can cause individuals to be cross-eyed. Another cause of amblyopia is when both eyes are different sizes or one eye focuses better than the other. The eye that sees better may begin to compensate for the other and eventually stunt the weaker eye's development.
Prevention
Amblyopia may be genetically inherited or appear in children born prematurely. There is no way to prevent lazy eye but, according to the National Eye Institute, adult blindness can be prevented if amblyopia is treated early enough.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Typically, an eye exam is all that is needed to determine whether the patient has amblyopia. Once a diagnosis is made, several treatment options may be recommended depending on the cause of the amblyopia and the severity of the condition. In some cases, the underlying cause must be treated first.
Existing treatments for lazy eye include glasses, patches, surgery and medication. Glasses are used for patients with poor vision due to conditions such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. MayoClinic.com notes that often glasses are enough to treat lazy eye. A patch placed over the "good" eye may be used to force the weaker eye to develop and strengthen. The patch is used for a couple hours each day, or 24 hours a day for several weeks if the condition is severe.
Surgery may be necessary to repair weak eye muscles. Medication with a drug called atropine is also sometimes used. Administered in the form of a drop to the stronger eye, atropine causes blurred vision and forces the child to only use the weaker eye. This can help the lazy eye develop, but according to Prevent Blindness America, the other approaches are typically more beneficial.
Support Groups
Several support groups and websites are available for families dealing with amblyopia. Prevent Blindness America, a nonprofit organization, runs a program called the Eye Patch Club and hosts forums for parents. The Optometrists Network discusses treatment options and provides comprehensive lists of doctors who treat the condition. Also, Eye Care America, a site sponsored by the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, offers parents information on clinical trials and web videos about the disease.
