Amblyopia Diagnosis and Treatment
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Amblyopia is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in children, affecting approximately 2-3 out of 100 children. Amblyopia is a condition in which the coordination between the eye and the brain is disrupted. Although the affected eye may appear normal, the vision is compromised. Usually, amblyopic children develop the proper vision in one eye with problems with the other eye.
As a result, the brain starts to favor one eye’s image over the other instead of taking images from both eyes to form a 3D vision. Eventually, this can lead to reduced vision in the weaker eye, reducing speed with close-up tasks, including reading or computer tasks. Moreover, when the child uses only one eye, it can diminish their field of vision and reduce depth perception.
Diagnosis and Treatment
An amblyopic child is likely to trip over or bump into things frequently. Their academic and overall physical performance may also decline significantly. In many cases, the child may not complain about vision problems. Some warning signs include frequent squinting, crossed eyes, or head tilting for better vision. Regular eye screenings are a simple way to diagnose this problem. Treatment for amblyopia is typically focused on forcing the brain to acknowledge the images formed by the weaker eye so that its vision grows stronger. Treatments for amblyopia include:
- Prescription glasses
- Eye patch for the unaffected eye
- Atropine drops
- Surgery (usually the last resort)
Early diagnosis and treatment a must
Children achieve visual maturity by the age of eight. After that, it could difficult to treat amblyopia. Therefore, it’s best to diagnose and treat the condition as early as possible. The earlier the treatment for amblyopia starts, the higher the chances of improving vision and avoiding permanent vision loss.
Amblyopia is a serious vision condition that needs immediate attention.