AMBLYOPIA (lazy eye)

Amblyopia is a term relating to reduced vision in one or both eyes. This is associated with impaired vision development due to high refractive prescriptions, a turned eye (strabismus) or some form of impairment of light to the retina from physical defects such as a cataract at birth.

Amblyopia affects many areas of vision including clarity, form perception, fine detail discrimination, eye movements, and spatial and depth perception. Spatial effects of amblyopia include poor depth perception, peripheral awareness, posture and balance. Confidence in climbing activities, playgrounds, steps and stairs, bike-riding, ball skills and road sense may be reduced.

In the classroom, the ability to see the board and small print will be more difficult. Writing posture, neatness and page organization may be irregular. Copying skills will often be slower, and visual attention is more likely to be distracted. Eye movement and tracking skills will be often less controlled causing excessive head movement and decreased fluency / keeping place.

Assessment of eye health, as well as an accurate corrective prescription is essential to ascertain the long-term prognosis and treatment necessary. Spectacles or contact lenses will be recommended to improve visual clarity to optimum level and this prescription may need to be altered as visual status changes.

Amblyopia can be improved often by patching the better eye for 1-2 hours /day whilst doing various activities to stimulate the poorer eye’s attention (as long as he optimal glasses or contact lenses are being worn). Other intensive vision therapy can also be done in-office with our vision therapist to fine-tune vision development.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

Improve lighting (natural or artificial), size , contrast , borders , colour and detail of any visual objects in the person’s environment.

For example:

Mark path edges, steps etc with dark or contrast borders.

Use balls or toys with strong geometric patterns.

Use contrast for written tasks such as black or dark blue on white-boards, and white or yellow on black-boards.

Use large print books, large print playing cards and fonts for near tasks and computer activities.

Add distinct borders to the edge of worksheets (particularly the Left) to guide L-R writing awareness as well as darkening page-lines for writing in work-books.

Use strong colours and clearly marcated shapes for threading, cutting and colouring.

Encourage involvement in activities such as swimming, gymnastics, ballet, martial arts to develop balance and co-ordination