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Lazy Eye
Treatment and Detection of Amblyopia
By Jenn Director Knudsen
What You Can Do
As with so many things in kids' lives, early intervention is paramount. And if there is a problem, frequent and consistent follow-up is a must. Dr. Neigel recommends children with no family history of childhood eye problems and with no obvious visual impairment (such as eyes that don't align properly) get their first exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist prior to school age. Though screening tests are done before entrance into kindergarten or the first grade, it may be a good idea to have your child examined even as young as 3 years of age. The AOA goes a step further, recommending comprehensive eye exams in 6-month-old infants. It says only 14 percent of kids under age 5 have received such exams.
The organization also lists behaviors parents should watch for that could indicate a vision problem. Chief among them, in infants to preschool-age kids, are the following:
- Avoidance of detailed activities like coloring or doing puzzles
- Bumping into objects and being unable to judge distances
- Tilting the head or closing an eye
"If you think anything doesn't look right, take them in to make sure," Dr. Neigel says. "You don't want to miss anything. The earlier it's caught, the easier it is to treat."