Amblyopia
Amblyopia is commonly known as the lazy eye, this problem results in the reduced vision in one of the eyes and cannot be cured by corrective eye wear.
The condition of lazy eye does not arise due to any eye disease; the brain simply starts to ignore the images formed by one of the eyes and suppresses its function. The lazy eye itself is completely functional but its images are not processed by the brain. Most people often confuse lazy eye with Strabismus, Strabismus can lead to a lazy eye but they are two different problems of the eye. The condition manifests itself at an early age, most often within the first six years of life, so comprehensive eye tests are a must for all infants. Causes The first few years after the child is very important, during this time if one of the eyes cannot process images well enough then the brain suppresses the functioning of that eye. Strabismus or the constant turning of one eye is a major cause of a lazy eye. Another important cause is the different eye prescriptions of different eye also known as Anisometropia. If the functioning of one eye is suppressed by the brain then it can lead to partial loss of vision and if left untreated the patient may become completely blind in one eye. The worst part is that this vision problem cannot be cured by the LASIK surgery as well since it is not a problem of the eye. Diagnosis Early diagnosis and treatment is of the essence and has been known to cure the problem completely in children within the critical age group of six. If you have toddler at home, make sure you take him or her to a child eye care specialist frequently. The standard 20/20 letter charts used by the doctors is not sufficient to detect the a lazy eye, therefore cycloplegic drops need to be used. Treatment The treatment of a lazy eye primarily involves good vision therapy along with some procedures like the implementation of eyeglasses. Some of the children may have to wear eye patches to correct their vision permanently. Detection and treatment within the age of two is considered to be the best but the patients have a good chance of recovery even after that.Contrary to popular belief, adult Amblyopia can sometimes be successfully treated as well. Anyone suffering from porr vision in either or both eyes should immediately consult with a certified ophthalmologist and start the treatment immediately in order to restore their vision.
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