Children's Eye Health Depends on Early Detection
August 7, 2003
Early detection of vision problems is an important first step in retaining good vision health for a lifetime.
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (August 1, 2003) — Good vision is an important component of a child’s mental and social development. The first few years of life are crucial to the development of eyesight, making early detection of vision problems is an important first step in retaining good vision health for a lifetime. With proper detection and treatment, many childhood vision impairments such as amblyopia can be prevented or reversed.
What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” is the medical term used when vision in one of the eyes is reduced because the eye and the brain are not working together properly. The eye affected by amblyopia will appear normal, but will not function properly because the brain is favoring the other eye. In the United States, amblyopia occurs in approximately 4 percent of children. Amblyopia results in reduced vision in an eye that has not received adequate use during early childhood and can stem from several underlying vision impairments. Misalignment of a child’s eyes, such as crossed eyes, or a difference in image quality between the two eyes is common causes of amblyopia. In both situations, one eye becomes stronger, suppressing the image of the other eye. Without treatment, the weaker eye may become useless.
Strabismus or “squint” can also lead to amblyopia and is characterized by one eye that does not aim directly at an object of interest to which the other eye is aimed. This condition is also treatable when detected early in a child’s life.
Detection of vision impairments
All newborns should receive a red reflex test in the hospital nursery. This test should be administered by a pediatrician, family physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. Any children found to be at high-risk for vision problems should be examined by an eye care specialist or pediatric ophthalmologist. Follow-up exams including a red reflex test should happen again when a child is 6 months to one year of age.
As the child reaches the age of 3 to 4 years, it is important to test vision and alignment with emphasis placed on vision acuity. This examination can be performed by eye care specialists, school nurses who are trained in vision testing, pediatrician, family physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. Many problems are detected by these types of tests, making it possible to minimize permanent vision loss.
What can doctors do to treat amblyopia?
Early treatment of amblyopia may include patching or covering one eye for a period of time. The stronger eye is patched, forcing the “lazy” eye to work and strengthen its vision. Medication is another option for children with amblyopia and is administered through eye drops. The drops are used in much the same way as a patch, blurring the vision of the strong eye in order to strengthen the weak one. In some cases, the two treatments can be used in tandem to treat amblyopia.
Dr. Suh says the majority of vision loss from amblyopia is preventable or reversible with the right kind of intervention. The success of the recovery depends greatly on the maturity of the visual connections in the eye and when the treatment is begun. He also stresses that ruling out other vision diseases is important to ensure proper treatment of all vision impairments.
In medical practice since 1919, Wolfe Clinic is a recognized regional diagnostic and surgical center offering the broadest range of professional care in the specialties of ophthalmology and otolaryngology. With over 32 locations throughout Iowa, including Marshalltown, Ames, Fort Dodge, West Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Cedar Falls, Wolfe Clinic provides expert eye care and convenience to all Iowans.