A lazy eye is a condition that occurs due to differences in your eyes’ vision. One eye might have reduced vision than the other hence the name. Beverly Hills, CA lazy eye usually develops in the early stages of life, up to seven years. If left untreated, the condition can lead to permanent loss of vision.
It is best to seek treatment for your child before they reach seven years old to maximize the effectiveness of treatment.
Causes and symptoms
Common causes of a lazy eye include muscle imbalances which prevent the eyes from working together, and refractive problems, like the difference in sharpness of vision. Other causes include deprivation which limits clear vision due to a cloudy area in the cataract. Deprivation requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent loss of vision.
If your child has a lazy eye, they might experience symptoms such as head tilting, eyes that turn inward or outward, squinting or shutting an eye, and poor depth perception. Taking your child for regular eye screening or exams can show abnormal results if they have a lazy eye. It would always help to observe your child’s gaze and vision to ascertain whether they have a problem.
Risk factors for a lazy eye
You are at risk of a lazy eye if the condition runs in your family. Other factors include premature birth or a child with a small size at birth, and developmental disabilities.
Treatment options
The treatment plan for lazy eye gears toward using the weaker eye more than the stronger one. Your doctor will recommend treatment depending on the severity of your condition. The following are common treatment methods that your specialist might use to treat a lazy eye.
Corrective eyewear
Your doctor can recommend corrective eyeglasses and lenses to correct your child’s lazy eye. The eyewear can remedy issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Eyedrops
Your specialist can recommend eyedrops that they will use on the stronger eye to cause blurry vision and encourage the use of the affected one. An eyedrop can have side effects like light sensitivity and irritation.
Eye patches
Your child can wear patches for around six hours daily to stimulate the weaker eye. The patch covers the eye with good vision, but with prolonged use of a patch, you can have lazy eye symptoms in the eye with better vision. Fortunately, the condition is reversible.
Bangerter filter
Your doctor can apply a special filter on your eyeglasses, especially for the stronger eye. The filter will blur the stronger eye to stimulate the weaker one.
Surgery
If your child’s condition is severe and you don’t respond to corrective eyewear, your specialist can recommend surgery. The treatment corrects droopy eyelids or cataracts.
If your child exhibits symptoms of a lazy eye, visit Beverly Hills Optometry: Advanced Dry Eye Center for treatment. The available optometrists and staff will evaluate your child’s eyes so that they can provide the best treatment. Call or book your appointment online today to improve your child’s vision.
