In order to answer some of your general questions about eye care, please send your questions to “Ask the Eye Care Specialist,” c/o Education Update, 276 Fifth Ave., Suite 1005, New York, NY, 10001 or email: ednews1@aol.com. We will try to answer as many questions as possible in this column. Specific diagnoses of eye diseases or conditions cannot be made. The answers given in this column must not take the place of your doctor’s advice.

Ask the Eye Care Specialist

by Mitchell Strominger, MD

QUESTION: What is Amblyopia?

ANSWER: Amblyopia is sometimes called “lazy eye.” Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. Equal vision from both eyes stimulate brain cells in the back of the brain “occipital lobe” to develop normally. Without equal visual input, the brain cells stimulated from the abnormal eye develop poorly. Amblyopia, when treated early in infancy or childhood, can often be corrected because children’s vision continues to develop until they are eight years old. After age eight, the change may be permanent. Since four out of every 100 persons have some form of amblyopia, it is very important that all children have their vision checked by an eye care professional, pediatrician or family physician at or before age three, especially if there is a family history of poor vision. Be aware that a child who has amblyopia may look normal to others.

There are three major causes of amblyopia: refractive amblyopia (unequal focus), strabismic amblyopia (misaligned eye) and cloudiness in the normally clear eye tissue.

When one eye is stronger than the other, glasses may be given to make the vision in both eyes equal and allow for the eyes to develop normally. A child with strabismus, or “crossed eye,” may develop strabismic amblyopia. The crossed or misaligned eye “turns off” to avoid double vision, and the child prefers the better (uncrossed) eye. Both eyes must be aligned for better vision and the development of depth perception. Surgery may be needed to correct the problem.

Children with extreme farsightedness (can’t see up close) try very hard to focus, even though it is difficult. With this increased effort, the eye may turn inward. This form of amblyopia may be corrected with glasses so the child can focus easier. The eyes may straighten themselves out (accommodative esotropia).

Dr. Strominger is Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Maimonides Medical Center, SUNY Downstate.

For more information on finding an eye care professional near you, or if you have difficulty paying for your child’s eye care, please contact Lori Brenig, MPH, The New York City Children’s Vision Coalition, 212-980-2020, x13.

If you would like to make a donation to help children get the necessary eye care, please send to: New York City Children’s Vision Coalition, 149 Madison Avenue, Suite 805, New York, NY 10016. Thank you!

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2001.