Introduction
The eyes are the greatest gift of nature. Every sense we possess has a vital role, but senses of sight are considered the most important. Without proper eyesight, the quality of life will not be good. There are so many eye conditions that can affect only one eye.
An eye creates an image through a series of events. In brief, the cornea-absorbed light is passed through the iris lens and is then focused on the innermost layer of the retina from where an image is formed for vision.
Lazy eye is a condition in which vision in one eye will get affected during the early stages of life due to underdevelopment of vision. As a result, one eye will have a blurry vision that gets ignored by the brain and focuses only on the precise image-producing eyes. This condition is called amblyopia. The term lazy eye is a bit misleading as the problem is with the nerve connecting the eye to the brain and not the eye itself. The condition worsens if not treated at the right time. This article will discuss the causes, types, symptoms, complications, diagnosis, and management.
What Are the Causes of Amblyopia?
There are so many factors believed to cause lazy eyes.
It includes,
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Refractive Errors: Vision in one eye will diminish and produce blurry images, which the brain will not consider. Only the clear prints produced by healthy eyes will be considered. The vision will keep declining as the brain ignores it and thus results in a lazy eye. Initial blurring could be because of nearsightedness (trouble in viewing objects that are far) or farsightedness (trouble in viewing the things nearby), or astigmatism (the corneal surface is curved).
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Strabismus: In this condition, the eyes do not be in the same line where the problem is only in one eye. Now, both eyes will focus on different objects, and thus double images are formed. In this case, the brain avoids the eye with the problem.
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Cataracts: Cataract formation in one eye causes blurry vision, thus suppressing the vision gradually.
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Other Conditions: Droopy eyelids and the corneal scar can cause lazy eyes.
What Are the Symptoms of Lazy Eyes?
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Head tilts to one side.
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Squint eye.
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Vision screening test results are abnormal.
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Experience nearsightedness or farsightedness.
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Droopy eyelids.
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Shutting of an eye.
What Are the Risk Factors of Lazy Eyes?
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Lazy eye conditions run in the family.
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Lesser weight of the child during childbirth.
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Developmental disabilities.
What Are the Possible Complications of Lazy Eyes?
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Untreated, lazy eyes result in permanent loss of vision.
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Strabismus can worsen.
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The child’s central vision (vital for reading, driving, and seeing pictures or faces) gets affected.
How to Diagnose Lazy Eyes?
Diagnosing lazy eyes at an early stage is a difficult task because a child will not know the difference. Routine eye check-up has to be done in order to prevent any eye diseases that may affect the child. It is suggested that the child undergo regular eye tests until the age of five.
Once a lazy eye is diagnosed during the tests, the child will be put through a few more tests to assess the condition. The test varies with the age of the child affected with lazy eyes. Generally, pupils are dilated with an eye drop to study the structures.
Preverbal Child:
A magnifying device fitted with a light is used to diagnose cataracts and check how well the child’s eye can follow a moving object.
Children of Age 3 or Above:
One eye is covered and made to read out numbers and alphabets with another eye.
These vision exams will determine whether the eyes are in line, have equal vision, and allow light to enter equally.
How to Manage Lazy Eyes?
Early diagnosis and early treatment are the only means to cure amblyopia completely since the development of the connection between the eye and the brain is still happening in a child.
Treatment for lazy eyes done before the age of 7 is found to have a better prognosis.
Procedures:
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Corrective Glasses: Glasses or contact lenses are prescribed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
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Eye Patches: Eye patch is prescribed for the child to be worn on the eyes that have good vision in order to stimulate the vision in the other eye. Long-term usage of the eye patch might cause amblyopia in that eye; however, it is always reversible.
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Bangerter Filter: This filter is fitted to the back of the eyewear lens corresponding to the average eye to stimulate the amblyopia eye. This method is the same as an eye patch.
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Eye Drops: Atropine eye drops are given to blur the vision of healthy eyes and make the amblyopia eye work properly. It works as an alternative to eye patches and Bangerter filters. In a few cases, light sensitivity and irritation of the eye are experienced.
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Surgery: In children with cataracts and droopy eyelids, surgical intervention is necessary. Surgery is considered only after the eyeglasses do not work.
Exercises:
Doing a few activities can help heal the process.
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Coloring in the lines.
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Holding a pencil near the nose and focusing on it as it is moved away and closer.
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Wearing an eyepatch and playing puzzles reap good benefits.
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Reading while wearing a patch.
Prognosis
Adhering to the treatment by wearing eyeglasses and eyepatch regularly will determine the extent of the prognosis. Otherwise, all the methods of treatment discussed are bound to produce excellent results.
Conclusion
The child has to be put through regular eye check-ups to diagnose the condition early to prevent lazy eyes. Therefore, taking good care of a child’s health is very important. However, there is no need to stress or panic as adequate treatment modalities are available to treat amblyopia if required.
