Amblyopia

Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye," occurs in 2% to 3% of babies and, in the US, in 75,000 3-year-olds per year. In this condition, poor vision in one or both eyes may result in the eyes not pointing in the same direction (misalignment) or in the eyes becoming crossed (strabismus). Amblyopia may be inherited or caused by uncorrected Refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism; see Refractive Errors, below). Amblyopia results when there is a difference in the quality of the images recorded by each eye and sent to the brain. The brain picks the better of the two images sent to it and disregards the blurry or cloudy image. When the brain disregards this image, the visual system develops more slowly for the eye that sent the discarded image than for the eye that sent the good image. Parents usually cannot recognize a lazy eye merely by looking at it, because the problem is in the brain as well as the eye. The brain blocks vision from the lazy eye because the brain is unable to use both eyes together. An infant with normal vision learns to use both eyes together (binocular vision), and the pictures from the left and right eye are then combined (fused) into one picture by the brain. Because binocular vision permits us to tell how far away an object is in relation to other objects (depth perception), children with amblyopia have poor depth perception.

Signs of Amblyopia

Most babies with amblyopia show no obvious signs of the condition, which must be diagnosed by an eye doctor. In some infants, however: The weak eye turns (see the diagrams under "Strabismus"). The weak eye tends to close. The child squints. The child constantly rubs one eye.

If you notice any of these signs in your child, let your eye doctor know right away.

Treatments for Amblyopia

Patch therapy: A patch is worn over the good eye so the weak eye will be used and will develop. In this situation, the BabyEyesT DVD can help to stimulate and strengthen vision in the weak eye.

Glasses, which help correct poor vision in one or both eyes.

Eye surgery may be required in rare cases in which the child is born with a clouded crystalline lens (a congenital cataract), or if amblyopia is combined with strabismus.

If amblyopia is not treated before 4 years of age, it can become permanent and untreatable. This is one reason why a visit to the eye doctor before 14 months of age is so important!