Dr. Dennis Francis
I often hear patients say they have (or think they have) a lazy eye. The term “lazy eye” is actually synonymous with the medical term “amblyopia”. Amblyopia occurs when one eye fails to provide adequate vision and the brain begins to collect visual information from only the better eye. The poorer seeing eye subsequently fails to develop normally. If left untreated, amblyopia results in a best-corrected vision of worse than 20/20 and reduced binocular vision.
Amblyopia is most often a consequence of unequal glasses prescription between the two eyes or from monocular strabismus (one eye turning in or out). It is very difficult to re-train the brain once it decides not to use the amblyopic eye. Amblyopia is one of the most common causes of vision loss in children because it often arises without symptoms. Routine eye examinations play a key role in preventing vision loss from amblyopia.
The American Optometric Association and the eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare agree that even if no eye or vision problems are apparent, at about age 6 months, you should take your baby to your doctor of optometry for his or her first thorough eye examination. We can offer helpful suggestions to prevent amblyopia and, if necessary, begin treatment for any eye-related problems.
Tags: 20/20, eye exam, vision correction