School Eye Screening
One of the major causes of avoidable blindness in India is refractive error particularly among school going children
To tackle this problem, school children of all age groups need to be examined from time to time. In addition, presence of other ocular diseases that can occur in children like squint, amblyopia, congenital defects in one or both eyes, miscellaneous causes of low vision, vitamin A deficiency causing dryness of eye, also need to be picked up and treated at an appropriate time.
What is amblyopia/lazy eye?
Amblyopia is when vision in one or both eyes does not develop properly during childhood. It is sometimes called “lazy eye.” Amblyopia is a common problem in babies and young children. A child’s vision develops in the first few years of life. It is important to diagnose and treat amblyopia as early as possible. Otherwise, a child with amblyopia will not develop normal, healthy vision.
What causes amblyopia?
Amblyopia can develop from other eye and vision problems. Here are some conditions that may cause amblyopia in a child.
Refractive errors-A child may have a refractive error that is worse in one eye. That eye can “turn off,” and vision will not develop properly. This can be difficult to tell since the child’s vision seems fine when using both eyes.
Strabismus/ Squint- This is when the eyes point in two different directions. One eye may be focused straight ahead while the other turns in, out, up, or down. To avoid seeing double, the child’s brain may ignore the image from the eye that is not focused straight ahead.
Cataract- Some children are born with a cataract, where the eye’s normally clear lens is cloudy. This can keep vision from developing properly in that eye.
Droopy Eyelid- Ptosis, or a droopy eyelid, can block vision in a child’s developing eye.
How is amblyopia diaognised
Your child might not be aware of having better vision in one eye than the other. And you may not realize
Your Eye Specialist diagnose amblyopia by checking to see if vision differs between the two eyes. will do A complete eye examination is done, looking for other eye problems that could be affecting vision.
How is amblyopia treated?
Refractive error if any corrected by spectacles. Amblyopia is usually corrected by making the child use their weaker eye. This can be done by putting a patch over the child’s stronger eye.
Others causes of Amblyopia found like squint, cataract or ptosis it may be corrected by surgery.