Eyes, Pediatric Ophthalmology & Ortho K
Understand more about: Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
28 June, 2023
What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a condition where vision does not develop properly during early childhood.
After the age of seven to eight years, the development of the part of the child’s brain that processes vision is almost complete.
If the brain has not received clear images from the weak eye before that, it would be difficult to improve vision in that eye after the visual part of the brain development is complete. The eye is then said to be “amblyopia” or “lazy”. If left untreated, visual impairment can become permanent.
What causes amblyopia?
The main causes of amblyopia are uncorrected high refractive error (astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia), large differences in refractive power between the two eyes, and/or squint (strabismus). A minority are due to conditions that obstruct vision, such as droopy eyelids and childhood cataract.
Children with amblyopia often do not complain of poor vision, and the problem may only be detected when vision testing is done.
Occasionally, parents may notice a squint (where one eye appears to be misaligned), or a droopy upper eyelid in their children.
How is amblyopia diagnosed?
Amblyopia is typically detected during an eye check-up since the child is usually too young to complain of poor vision. This should be carried out around the age of four by the family doctor, pediatrician, or ophthalmologist.
To correct amblyopia, the child must be encouraged to use the lazy eye. This is usually done by patching the good eye, often for several hours a day.
Patching therapy may take months or even years and is often more effective when it is started at a younger age. The basis of patching is to allow the lazy eye to be used more often than the other eye so that the lazy eye gets a chance to develop normal vision. If spectacles are remeasured, the child must wear it at all.
Illustration: Child with an eye patch
When amblyopia is detected too late (beyond 8 years old), it may not be possible to reverse the visual impairment. It is therefore important that you have your child’s eyes checked if you suspect a visual problem, or are advised by the school health services to consult an ophthalmologist.
Our Ophthalmology Care Team:
- Dr THAO Vo, Chief Medical Officer, Prima Medical Center Saigon
- Dr AN Trinh, Head of General Ophthalmology
- Dr QUOC Nguyen, Senior Consultant
What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a condition where vision does not develop properly during early childhood.
After the age of seven to eight years, the development of the part of the child’s brain that processes vision is almost complete.
If the brain has not received clear images from the weak eye before that, it would be difficult to improve vision in that eye after the visual part of the brain development is complete. The eye is then said to be “amblyopia” or “lazy”. If left untreated, visual impairment can become permanent.
What causes amblyopia?
The main causes of amblyopia are uncorrected high refractive error (astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia), large differences in refractive power between the two eyes, and/or squint (strabismus). A minority are due to conditions that obstruct vision, such as droopy eyelids and childhood cataract.
Children with amblyopia often do not complain of poor vision, and the problem may only be detected when vision testing is done.
Occasionally, parents may notice a squint (where one eye appears to be misaligned), or a droopy upper eyelid in their children.
How is amblyopia diagnosed?
Amblyopia is typically detected during an eye check-up since the child is usually too young to complain of poor vision. This should be carried out around the age of four by the family doctor, pediatrician, or ophthalmologist.
To correct amblyopia, the child must be encouraged to use the lazy eye. This is usually done by patching the good eye, often for several hours a day.
Patching therapy may take months or even years and is often more effective when it is started at a younger age. The basis of patching is to allow the lazy eye to be used more often than the other eye so that the lazy eye gets a chance to develop normal vision. If spectacles are remeasured, the child must wear it at all.
Illustration: Child with an eye patch
When amblyopia is detected too late (beyond 8 years old), it may not be possible to reverse the visual impairment. It is therefore important that you have your child’s eyes checked if you suspect a visual problem, or are advised by the school health services to consult an ophthalmologist.
Our Ophthalmology Care Team:
- Dr THAO Vo, Chief Medical Officer, Prima Medical Center Saigon
- Dr AN Trinh, Head of General Ophthalmology
- Dr QUOC Nguyen, Senior Consultant
Childhood myopia