2-3 % of the world’s population has amblyopia. This is where the visual system does not develop normally in one or both eyes. Many pediatricians will do yearly vision screenings to be sure amblyopia is not present. If your child fails a vision screening with the pediatrician, an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist such as Dr. Morrison is necessary.
Amblyopia can be caused by anything obstructing the vision like a cataract or droopy eyelid (ptosis). It can be caused by misaligned eyes (strabismus). It can also be caused by an untreated need for glasses. There is a 90% success rate with therapy if the therapy is started before 5 years of age. After 9 years of age, the condition will become permanent and is no longer treatable.
Treatments include glasses, eye alignment or ptosis surgery, or occlusion therapy. Occlusion therapy is classic path therapy, covering one eye and forcing the weaker eye to work by itself. In children who will not wear the patch, sometimes an eyedrop called atropine is prescribed. This drop blurs the vision in the good eye, forcing the bad eye to work by itself.
Dr. Morrison will work with you to develop a treatment plan for your child that maximizes visual outcomes based on your child’s specific needs.
Morrison DG, Palmer NJ, Sinatra RB, Donahue S. Severe amblyopia of the sound eye from atropine therapy combined with optical penalization. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2005;42(1):52-53.
Leon A, Donahue SP, Morrison DG, Estes RL, Li C. The age-dependent effect of anisometropia magnitude on anisometropic amblyopia severity. J AAPOS. 2008 Apr;12(2):150-6.
Teed RG, Bui CM, Morrison DG, Estes RL, Donahue SP. Amblyopia therapy in children identified by photoscreening. Ophthalmology 2010; 117:159-62.
Patching compliance with full-time vs. part-time occlusion therapy. Kane J, Biernacki R, Fraine L, Fukuda N, Haskins K, Morrison DG. Am Orthopt J. 2013;63:19-23. doi: 10.3368/aoj.63.1.19.
Scheiman MM, Hertle RW, Kraker RT, Beck RW, Birch EE, Felius J, Holmes JM, Kundart J, Morrison DG, Repka MX Tamkins SM, Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group. Patching vs atropine to treat amblyopia in children 7 to 12 years: a randomized trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(12):1634-42.
