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You notice your child turns her head, using her left eye to look at something in her right hand. Or, if you cover his right eye and he can't see as far as with his left. Your child's eyes don't line up. One eye appears crossed or looks out. Go to an eye doctor immediately. These are signs of amblyopia, known as Lazy Eye.
According to the National Eye Institute, two to five percent of American children ages 3 to 5 have amblyopia. The most common visual impairment in childhood, it causes more loss of vision in people age 45 and younger than all other eye diseases and trauma combined.
Before treating amblyopia, the underlying cause must be addressed. Glasses are commonly prescribed to improve focusing or misalignment of the eyes. Surgery may be performed on the eye muscles. Eye exercises are often recommended.
After correcting the cause, patching or covering one eye is the most successful treatment for amblyopia. It can take a few weeks to a year. The better-seeing eye is patched, forcing the "lazy" one to work, thereby strengthening its vision.
Prevent Blindness America's Eye Patch Club is geared toward children with amblyopia and their families. The program encourages children to wear their eye patches as prescribed by their doctor. Among other materials, members of the club receive their own special calendar and stickers to place on the calendar for each day the child wears his or her patch. Once the calendar is complete, it is sent to PBA to receive a special prize. Proceeds from the sale of the kits go to Prevent Blindness America's sight-saving programs.
Go to www.preventblindness.org for details.
According to the National Eye Institute, two to five percent of American children ages 3 to 5 have amblyopia. The most common visual impairment in childhood, it causes more loss of vision in people age 45 and younger than all other eye diseases and trauma combined.
Before treating amblyopia, the underlying cause must be addressed. Glasses are commonly prescribed to improve focusing or misalignment of the eyes. Surgery may be performed on the eye muscles. Eye exercises are often recommended.
After correcting the cause, patching or covering one eye is the most successful treatment for amblyopia. It can take a few weeks to a year. The better-seeing eye is patched, forcing the "lazy" one to work, thereby strengthening its vision.
Prevent Blindness America's Eye Patch Club is geared toward children with amblyopia and their families. The program encourages children to wear their eye patches as prescribed by their doctor. Among other materials, members of the club receive their own special calendar and stickers to place on the calendar for each day the child wears his or her patch. Once the calendar is complete, it is sent to PBA to receive a special prize. Proceeds from the sale of the kits go to Prevent Blindness America's sight-saving programs.
Go to www.preventblindness.org for details.
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