Eye Aesthetics
Strabismus is the most common and frequently observed cause of amblyopia. A misaligned eye does not transmit the visual image to the brain, leading the person to rely on the eye with better vision.
Refractive errors can also contribute to amblyopia. If one eye appears much blurrier than the other due to a significant refractive error, the blurry eye may not develop visually and thus becomes lazy. This type of amblyopia is the hardest to detect because there may seem to be no apparent issue with the eyes. Families often notice the misalignment in their child's eyes and seek immediate examination, but by that time, the child may have aged, resulting in a missed opportunity for early intervention. Therefore, all children should be examined by an eye doctor before the age of 4, regardless of whether they show any complaints.
Opacity in the eye tissues, which should be transparent, is primarily caused by cataracts. This type of amblyopia (lazy eye) develops the fastest. Therefore, every newborn child must undergo a simple test called the red reflex test by a pediatrician. If any abnormality is detected, they should be examined by an eye doctor. This type of amblyopia develops very early and can be quite profound. Congenital cataracts should be surgically treated as soon as possible.
How is Amblyopia Diagnosed? Vision examinations for children under the age of 3.5 to 4 are quite challenging. In younger children and infants, the doctor tries to identify the eye with amblyopia using various methods, such as covering the healthy eye with a hand and evaluating the reaction. During examinations before the age of 4, the eye doctor primarily does the following: they check for any misalignment in the eyes. Next, they look for any opacities in transparent media, dilate the pupils with drops, and measure the refractive (focusing) values of both eyes. An important point here is to check for significant refractive errors in one eye compared to the other. Additionally, high refractive errors in both eyes are also taken into consideration. The examination is completed by also checking the retina (the light-sensitive layer) and the optic nerve (the visual nerve).
How is Amblyopia Treated? The essence of treatment for amblyopia is to make the weaker eye work. This is done by covering the stronger eye with a special patch for weeks, sometimes months. The necessary treatment is first prescribed. The child starts using it, and occlusion therapy is implemented. A period of occlusion therapy is done before surgery, the surgery is performed, and then occlusion continues for a while afterward. Children generally dislike having their eyes covered and may resist it. However, as a parent, this period can be successfully navigated with your interest and patience.