EYE CARE Q: What is amblyopia? A: Many people refer to amblyopia as a "lazy eye". Amblyopia is a condition where one or both eyes has decreased vision due to a lack of normal development in the eye; even though the eye is perfectly healthy. Amblyopia starts at birth or early childhood, and if left untreated can cause legal blindness or low vision in the affected eye. It can be caused by an eye turn (also known as strabismus), infantile cataracts, a large prescription in both eyes, or a large difference in the prescription between the two eyes. Decreased vision occurs because the brain learns to ignore the poor signal coming from the affected eye, so that eye never develops a good connection to the brain. As a result that eye will not have the ability to see clearly even if you correct the cause of amblyopia later in life. For adults with amblyopia, having the perfect glasses prescription will not allow them to see clear 20/20 vision. The affected eye will have decreased vision their entire life. This is why it's so important to get children in for comprehensive eye exams. Normal clear vision doesn't fully develop until kids are 4 or 5 years old. So if a risk factor for amblyopia is caught before that, it can be corrected and the child should develop good vision. Treatment for some can be as easy as wearing glasses, although some require vision therapy or eye patching. For older kids who have amblyopia, it can be treated and it is possible to improve vision. The younger the child is the better the outcome. If amblyopia is detected before the age of 9 or 10 in many cases the affected eye will still be able to develop 20/20 vision. We offer comprehensive eye exams for kids at Whelan Eye Care and assess for amblyopic risk factors. If you have any questions or if your child has not yet had an eye exam please call our office. Dr. Kynndyl Giannonatti Optometrist WHELAN ye Care 1900 DIVISION ST. W, BEMIDJI, MN (218) 759-1430 WHELANEYECARE.COM EYE CARE Q: What is amblyopia? A: Many people refer to amblyopia as a "lazy eye". Amblyopia is a condition where one or both eyes has decreased vision due to a lack of normal development in the eye; even though the eye is perfectly healthy. Amblyopia starts at birth or early childhood, and if left untreated can cause legal blindness or low vision in the affected eye. It can be caused by an eye turn (also known as strabismus), infantile cataracts, a large prescription in both eyes, or a large difference in the prescription between the two eyes. Decreased vision occurs because the brain learns to ignore the poor signal coming from the affected eye, so that eye never develops a good connection to the brain. As a result that eye will not have the ability to see clearly even if you correct the cause of amblyopia later in life. For adults with amblyopia, having the perfect glasses prescription will not allow them to see clear 20/20 vision. The affected eye will have decreased vision their entire life. This is why it's so important to get children in for comprehensive eye exams. Normal clear vision doesn't fully develop until kids are 4 or 5 years old. So if a risk factor for amblyopia is caught before that, it can be corrected and the child should develop good vision. Treatment for some can be as easy as wearing glasses, although some require vision therapy or eye patching. For older kids who have amblyopia, it can be treated and it is possible to improve vision. The younger the child is the better the outcome. If amblyopia is detected before the age of 9 or 10 in many cases the affected eye will still be able to develop 20/20 vision. We offer comprehensive eye exams for kids at Whelan Eye Care and assess for amblyopic risk factors. If you have any questions or if your child has not yet had an eye exam please call our office. Dr. Kynndyl Giannonatti Optometrist WHELAN ye Care 1900 DIVISION ST. W, BEMIDJI, MN (218) 759-1430 WHELANEYECARE.COM