Understanding Amblyopia and Its Causes, Signs and Treatment

The brain and eyes work together to create vision. Amblyopia occurs when one eye fails to work properly with the brain. This vision development disorder is more common among children. Origins Eye Clinic, a local medical eye clinic, explains more:

What Are the Causes?

Amblyopia is classified based on its cause. Strabismic amblyopia develops when the brain ignores the visual input from a misaligned eye. Deprivation amblyopia develops when cataracts or other conditions deprive an eye of light. Refractive amblyopia develops when there are unequal refractive errors in two eyes.

What Are the Signs?

See your child’s eye doctor if you notice that one of their eyes wanders outward or inward, or if their eyes appear to not work together. Another sign is frequently squinting or shutting one eye. However, amblyopia is not always obvious, so schedule regular eye exams. Look for a trustworthy eye clinic that can provide pediatric eye care services because amblyopia is detectable and treatable.

How Is Amblyopia Treated?

After the eye exam, your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on your child’s needs. One method for treating amblyopia is temporarily wearing a patch over the stronger eye. This forces the brain to use the weaker eye, stimulating its vision development. Another is administering atropine drops on your child’s stronger eye to achieve the same result.

You can rely on us for all of your vision care, optometry and other eye health needs. If you have any further questions on amblyopia, call us at (612) 869-1333. You may also complete our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve patients from Bloomington, MN, and nearby areas.