Despite the fact lazy eye (also known as amblyopia) affects 2 out of every 100 children, there are still a lot of misconceptions about the condition. Eyes on Norbeck, your local optometrist, explains how this condition develops and debunks some of these myths below:
How Does Amblyopia Develop?
At the ages of 7 to 10, your child’s visual systems will start to develop neural connections that allow light to travel between the brain and the optic nerves. However, if the brain starts to favor one eye, it might develop neural connections only to that particular eye. This can cause complications because the other eye will start to lose focus and send blurry images to the brain. Over time, the brain will start to ignore these images, causing lazy eye to develop.
What Are the Common Misconceptions About Amblyopia?
- After a certain age, it’s impossible to treat amblyopia – This misconception was formed because of the now disproven theory that a patient’s brain loses its neuroplasticity (the ability to make new neural connections) after a certain age. However, many adult patients with the condition have been successfully treated.
- Patching is the best way to treat lazy eye – Patching is just one of several treatment options available to patients. To learn more about the different treatment options for lazy eye, consult your local optometrist.
Why Early Treatment Is Vital for Children
Early detection of amblyopia is crucial because children primarily rely on visual information and stimulation during the early stages of their learning and development. Remember: vision skills don’t come naturally to children—they need to be learned through visual stimulation.
The Importance of Routine Eye Exams
As a rule, children should undergo an eye exam at least once a year. Through routine eye exams, optometrists can detect and treat vision conditions before they cause further complications.
Looking for optometrists near you?
Eyes on Norbeck offers professional eye care services, including prescription eyeglasses and eye exams. To schedule an appointment, call us at (301) 238-7199 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Potomac as well as the surrounding MD communities.
