When people think of vision problems, they often think of having trouble watching a movie, making out road signs, or reading. However, vision is more complex than that. One condition that is common for many children is amblyopia, which is also known as lazy eye. At Brecheen Learning & Vision Center, our eye doctor has years of experience providing residents of Lewisville, Dallas, and Fort Worth with lazy eye treatment.
What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia is the leading cause of vision loss in children. Vision does not develop correctly in children with amblyopia, making the brain unable to properly interpret images. With the lack of stimuli between the nerve pathways and the brain, the child is not able to learn to see as well as he should. Deprivation amblyopia develops alongside cataracts and other conditions and can affect both eyes. Refractive amblyopia happens when there is a significant refractive error in one or both eyes. If one eye has much poorer vision than the other, vision will develop in the good eye.
What's Involved in Lazy Eye Treatment?
It is best to start lazy eye treatment as early as possible. The current standard for the beginning of pediatric eye exams is six months old. The earlier it is caught, the more successful treatment is likely to be. In some cases, glasses or contacts are used to treat amblyopia. An eye patch or eye drops may also be used to develop the weaker eye.
One of the major challenges with lazy eye treatment is getting the child to cooperate during the treatment. Because the patch is highly noticeable by peers, eye drops are often preferred. It is important to do everything possible to get the child as well as their teachers on board with their treatment because vision loss can become permanent if not treated early.
Amblyopia Treatment in Lewisville, Dallas, and Fort Worth
If your child does not seem to be seeing as well as they should, or if you have an infant or preschooler who has not yet seen an eye doctor, it is a good idea to schedule an eye exam as soon as possible to make sure your child's eyes are developing properly. For more information on lazy eye treatment or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor, call Brecheen Learning & Vision Center today at (972) 221-2564.