AMBLYOPIA: THE LAZY EYE

AMBLYOPIA: THE LAZY EYE

Your child can experience what we call lazy eyes ( amblyopia), In this condition , one eye works better than the other eye. The brain therefore works with the better eye and neglect the weaker eye, allowing the weaker eye to get worse over time.

Amblyopia is the medical term for lazy-eye. It is a condition where the clear vision or eye functionality is not fully maximized. Amblyopia or Lazy eye is the lack of development of clear vision (acuity) in one or both eyes which cannot be improved with prescription glasses or contact lenses. It has to do with how the brain perceives and interprets the information coming from the lazy eye. If the information from the lazy eye is not good enough, the brain suppresses the information coming from such lazy eye, thereby neglecting the lazy eye and focus on the other eye ( which is the better eye).

Lazy eye can occur when one eye has significantly uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism.(Anisometropia). When this happens, the brain favours the eye with better vision and shuts off or suppresses the weak eye.

Also, Lazy eye can occur due to  a misalignment of the eyes. This is called Tropia or “Crossed” eye (Strabismus). The weak eye is often suppressed to prevent double vision, or diplopia.

Morealso, Lazy eye can occur when light is blocked from entering an eye (Deprivation Amblyopia).  This can occur due to cataracts or other eye abnormalities. As a result of the obstruction, one eye becomes weak, and the brain favours the eye without the obstruction, turning off or suppressing the weak eye.

Amblyopia or Lazy eye begins during infancy and early childhood. It requires an urgent medical attention.

SO, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A CHILD HAS A LAZY EYE?

There are typical symptoms you may observe in a child with a Lazy eye or amblyopia

1. You may notice the child squinting to see.
2. The child may often close one eye to see.
3. The child may often bump into things or look clumsy.
4. The child may need to frequently tilt head to one side to be able to see.
5. The child may be too slow while reading and poor in academics.
6. You may notice that one eye is not always looking straight. (Tropia).

IS THERE A SOLUTION?

Yes of course! But the earlier the better. The Treatment options for Amblyopia (lazy-eye), may include a combination of prescription glasses, prisms and vision therapy.

For further enquiries on this message, call our Vision therapist on +2348085861111. At Supreme Vision, we care.

Supreme Vision eye clinic.

2, Bouar Close, Off Bangui Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Wuse 2, Abuja.

+234 808 586 1111        +234 805 897 1009