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Amblyopia
Amblyopia occurs in any situation that prevents the normal use of the eyes. In most cases, amblyopia can be hereditary. Children with a family history of amblyopia should be examined by an eye doctor as early diagnosis is always important.
Causes of Amblyopia
Strabismus is the most common and frequently seen cause of amblyopia. The misaligned eye fails to transmit the visual image to the brain, leading the individual to rely on the better-seeing eye.
Refractive errors; if one eye is significantly blurrier than the other due to a high refractive error, that eye becomes lazy as it fails to complete its visual development. This is the hardest type of amblyopia to detect since there appears to be no problem with the eyes. Families often notice the misalignment in their child's eye and arrange for an examination, but by this time, as the child ages, it is often too late. Therefore, all children should be examined by an eye doctor before the age of 4, regardless of whether there are any complaints.
Cloudiness in the transparent eye tissues; the primary condition here is cataract. This type of amblyopia develops most rapidly. Therefore, every newborn must undergo a very simple test, the red reflex test, conducted by a pediatrician, and if any abnormalities are seen, a visit to an eye doctor is required. This type of amblyopia develops very early and profoundly. Congenital cataracts should be surgically treated as soon as possible.
How is Amblyopia Diagnosed?
Vision examinations for children are quite challenging before the age of 3.5-4 years. In younger children and infants, methods such as evaluating the response when the doctor occludes the healthy eye can be used to detect amblyopia. During the pre-4 age examination, the eye doctor primarily performs the following. They check for any misalignment in the eyes. Then they look for any cloudiness in the transparent media, dilate the pupil with drops, and measure the refractive values of both eyes.
The critical point here is whether one eye has a significantly higher refractive error than the other. Additionally, high refractive errors in both eyes are also taken into account. An examination of the refractive error, along with an examination of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue) and optic nerve (the nerve responsible for vision), completes the evaluation.
How is Amblyopia Treated?
The basis of treatment for amblyopia is to encourage the use of the weaker eye. This is achieved by occluding the stronger eye with a special patch for weeks or sometimes months. The necessary prescriptions are made first. The child starts using it, and occlusion therapy is implemented. A certain period of occlusion therapy is conducted before surgery, the surgery is performed, and then occlusion continues for a while longer. Children often dislike the occlusion and may refuse it. However, as a parent, during this period, your interest and patience can help navigate this challenge successfully.