What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia is the leading cause of visual impairment in children. This condition, which affects approximately 2 to 3 of every 100 children, is commonly referred to as “lazy eye.” Amblyopia can impact the vision in one eye and keep both eyes from working together for proper vision. Patients who have been diagnosed with this condition may have more difficulty with tasks such as working on a computer or reading. It can also cause children to have poor depth perception and reduced field of vision, resulting in more clumsiness.
What causes amblyopia?
The most common type of amblyopia is strabismic amblyopia. This type of lazy eye may be referred to as “wandering eye” and is caused by poor eye alignment. Refractive amblyopia is another type, where there is a noticeable discrepancy between the refractive abilities of both eyes. One eye may have a greater astigmatism or impairment that causes the brain to utilize the stronger eye and ignore the impacted eye, resulting in amblyopia. Another rare type of lazy eye known as deprivation amblyopia, can occur in some situations and may require surgical correction for improved vision.
Treatment options
To address conditions such as amblyopia, patients may want to speak to a professional about their treatment options. There are different ways to address this condition based on the type of amblyopia present, the age of the patient, and the severity of the condition. Some of the more common treatment options include:
- Wearing an eye patch over the stronger eye
- Using eye drops to blur vision in the stronger eye
- Performing vision acuity exercises to align the eyes and strengthen the weaker eye
With proper compliance with treatment, most children will be able to effective treat their condition and see an improvement in their vision over time.
Request an appointment today
If you are interested in visiting an eye physician to learn more about amblyopia and other conditions that can impact vision and eye health, we encourage you to book an appointment with Dr. Stuart Sondheimer of Skokie, IL. Call (847) 677-2794 today to discuss your needs.
