Causes: Amblyopia is also known as lazy eye and affects about 2 or 3 of every 100 people. Generally, amblyopia affects only one eye. Amblyopia is associated with three major causes, strabismus, unequal focus, and cloudiness in the eye tissues. Therefore when one eye develops normal vision, the other eye affected by amblyopia maintains poorer vision. Amblyopia can also be inherited, children that have a family history of the condition should have a proper eye examination.
Symptoms: It is hard to recognize amblyopia, unless a child has a misaligned eye or other noticeable abnormality. An examination by one of our doctors can help a child be diagnosed and treated in the best manner.
Treatment: Glasses may be prescribed in order to help correct focusing errors and help strengthen the weaker eye. Patching the stronger eye may also be recommended. Sometimes an eye drop can be used instead of the patch. Finally, surgery may be needed to help solve the problem. Amblyopia must be treated early in childhood in order to prevent loss of vision.
STRABISMUS
Causes: Many people that are diagnosed with
strabismus have a family history of the disease. Strabismus can be caused
by a number of other factors including a cataract, eye injury, or disorder
such as cerebral palsy, down syndrome, prematurity, or a brain tumor.
Symptoms: There are three common types of strabismus.
Congenital esotropia occurs when the eye turns inward and is the most
common form of the condition
Treatment: Dr. Debra Prieto can offer a variety of treatment recommendations after she properly exams a patient. Glasses may be prescribed to help straighten the eyes. Other options may include surgery to correct the eye muscles or to remove a cataract. Patching may also be another suggestion to improve vision.
RETINOPATHY
OF PREMATURITY (ROP)
Causes: ROP can be caused by a number of factors
that are associated with the premature birth of an infant. Those infants
that are at the highest risk for ROP are generally born under 32 weeks
of gestation, have a birth weight of under 1500 grams.
Symptoms: Early stages of ROP demonstrate no
obvious symptoms. It is important for a premature child to be examined
in order to prevent serious problems from developing.
Treatment: Diagnosis of the disease during its
early stage can help Dr. Debra Prieto recommend the best treatments for
preserving your child’s vision. It is important to have your baby
examined as directed by the neonatologists at the hospital in which your
child has received care. If left undiagnosed, serious problems, including
total vision loss can occur rapidly or later in life.
Causes: A learning disability refers to a disorder related to understanding as well as using spoken or written language. They can be caused by a low birth weight, stress before or after birth, infections of the central nervous system, head injures, or they can be inherited.
Symptoms: A child may have problems with reading, writing, listening, speaking, concentration, math, understanding abstract concepts, memory problems, and handwriting.
Treatment: Learning disabilities are not caused by vision problems, however an extensive eye examination can determine whether a visual defect is exacerbating your child’s learning disability.
