Amblyopia
Check Ups
I have pretty severe frustration with the Canadian medical system. There are simply not enough doctors for the patients and even families that are relatively healthy have trouble getting in to see their physician. My kids have been going to clinics all year long for their ear infections, colds, flus, etc.
Imagine my surprise when we get a chance to see their pediatrician for their annual check up. I was expecting that we would have trouble with Liam's back. We have known about this for a year or so but not been able to get to see a specialist. Finally, we have gotten a referral to the children's hospital for a proper diagnosis. I was not expecting that my eldest son has almost no vision in his right eye.
Apparently, approximately three percent of kids are afflicted with this. Liam's is extreme at this point and, according to the pediatric opthomologist, there is no way that this is new. This has been ongoing for a few years but has not been caught. I am frustrated with myself and with the medical system. Had this been caught prior to the age of three there is a high likelihood that he would have had perfect vision restored by six. Catching this at eight, there is zero chance that he will have perfect vision however, with "patching" the good eye and using a strong lens on the weak eye, we should be able to restore some vision. SOME VISION.
Absolutely incredible that we had no idea that his vision was that poor. I am including some information below on amblyopia.
As for his back, we are going to get x-rays on the back and hip. There is a good chance that there was hip dysplasia as a baby that was not diagnosed and the curvature in his back is simply the muscles accommodating this. I don't believe this to be serious. Liam plays every sport out there and has excellent dexterity. I am considering chiropractic treatment. Personally, the whole thing freaks me out but I have talked to a number of parents now who regularly see chiropractors with their kids and have excellent results.
I would love to hear your thoughts on chiropractic practices...
Amblyopia
Sometimes even children with perfect eyes can't see well. How can this be?
What is it? Practice makes perfect. Young eyes need practice in order for mature vision to develop in the brain. For this to happen, a clear image of the world needs to land on the retina and be transmitted to the visual cortex of the brain.
Amblyopia is the loss of vision caused when a clear image of the world is not available on the retina during key periods of development. The visual cortex of the brain develops dramatically in babies and young children. It continues to develop throughout the first decade of life.
Anything that interferes with a normal image on the retina during this time can lead to amblyopia – a loss of vision that continues even if no problem remains in the eye.
Who gets it?
Amblyopia might occur in strabismus, when one eye deviates to the side and isn’t used as much. It might occur if there is unequal vision in the two eyes from astigmatism, or if one eye is more nearsighted or farsighted than the other. It might occur if there is a cataract blocking vision in one eye, or if there has been an injury.
Whatever the cause, if the “lazy” eye relaxes, the vision in that eye gets worse, and a destructive cycle begins. The initial difference between the eyes does not have to be dramatic.
Amblyopia only begins during the first ten years of life. It is more likely, and often more serious, the younger the child is when the retina is not receiving a clear image.
What are the symptoms?
Most amblyopia is discovered during routine eye screening – without any symptoms having been noticed. The symptom of amblyopia is decreased visual acuity, but this is not usually found unless the child has her vision checked.
An eye that deviates, cloudiness in one eye, or any signs or symptoms of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism might suggest that amblyopia is developing as a result.
How long does it last?
If normal vision is not restored to the eye by about age 6, some degree of vision loss will probably be permanent. Usually a lazy eye should be diagnosed by age 3 in order to restore normal vision to that eye by age 6.
How is it diagnosed?
A March 2002 policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies have vision screening (including screening for strabismus and amblyopia) at the earliest possible age, and at regular intervals throughout childhood. Rather than relying on informal or subjective assessments of vision, the policy discusses photoscreening, a new test that can make checking vision easier and more accurate for even very young babies. A specially equipped camera takes their picture and a computer or a person analyzes the eye data obtained. Ask your pediatrician about having your baby screened.
If there are abnormal results on vision screening, or any reason to suspect amblyopia, the child should have a complete eye exam as soon as possible.
How is it treated?
The key to treating amblyopia is starting early. The first order of business is to identify and plan to treat the underlying cause of the amblyopia if it is still present.
It is also important to temporarily block vision in the better eye so that the child will use and exercise the “lazy” eye. This process may go on for weeks or months or even years.
Eye patches have long been a standard treatment for amblyopia. But children and parents alike sometimes have a tough time following through. Even if the child is initially enthusiastic about looking like a pirate, the patch ordeal can soon get old. It did in my house.
I was pleased to see a study published in the March 2002 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology that tested children with amblyopia at 47 different clinical sites. Half received patching (6 hours a day for 6 months); the other half were treated with blurring eye drops in the good eye (one drop of atropine a day for 6 months).
Treatment was successful (at least 3 lines of vision improvement, or vision brought to at least 20/30) in 79 percent of the patched kids and 74 percent of those receiving drops. Atropine drops appear to be a great treatment choice for some families.
I have pretty severe frustration with the Canadian medical system. There are simply not enough doctors for the patients and even families that are relatively healthy have trouble getting in to see their physician. My kids have been going to clinics all year long for their ear infections, colds, flus, etc.
Imagine my surprise when we get a chance to see their pediatrician for their annual check up. I was expecting that we would have trouble with Liam's back. We have known about this for a year or so but not been able to get to see a specialist. Finally, we have gotten a referral to the children's hospital for a proper diagnosis. I was not expecting that my eldest son has almost no vision in his right eye.
Apparently, approximately three percent of kids are afflicted with this. Liam's is extreme at this point and, according to the pediatric opthomologist, there is no way that this is new. This has been ongoing for a few years but has not been caught. I am frustrated with myself and with the medical system. Had this been caught prior to the age of three there is a high likelihood that he would have had perfect vision restored by six. Catching this at eight, there is zero chance that he will have perfect vision however, with "patching" the good eye and using a strong lens on the weak eye, we should be able to restore some vision. SOME VISION.
Absolutely incredible that we had no idea that his vision was that poor. I am including some information below on amblyopia.
As for his back, we are going to get x-rays on the back and hip. There is a good chance that there was hip dysplasia as a baby that was not diagnosed and the curvature in his back is simply the muscles accommodating this. I don't believe this to be serious. Liam plays every sport out there and has excellent dexterity. I am considering chiropractic treatment. Personally, the whole thing freaks me out but I have talked to a number of parents now who regularly see chiropractors with their kids and have excellent results.
I would love to hear your thoughts on chiropractic practices...
Amblyopia
Sometimes even children with perfect eyes can't see well. How can this be?
What is it? Practice makes perfect. Young eyes need practice in order for mature vision to develop in the brain. For this to happen, a clear image of the world needs to land on the retina and be transmitted to the visual cortex of the brain.
Amblyopia is the loss of vision caused when a clear image of the world is not available on the retina during key periods of development. The visual cortex of the brain develops dramatically in babies and young children. It continues to develop throughout the first decade of life.
Anything that interferes with a normal image on the retina during this time can lead to amblyopia – a loss of vision that continues even if no problem remains in the eye.
Who gets it?
Amblyopia might occur in strabismus, when one eye deviates to the side and isn’t used as much. It might occur if there is unequal vision in the two eyes from astigmatism, or if one eye is more nearsighted or farsighted than the other. It might occur if there is a cataract blocking vision in one eye, or if there has been an injury.
Whatever the cause, if the “lazy” eye relaxes, the vision in that eye gets worse, and a destructive cycle begins. The initial difference between the eyes does not have to be dramatic.
Amblyopia only begins during the first ten years of life. It is more likely, and often more serious, the younger the child is when the retina is not receiving a clear image.
What are the symptoms?
Most amblyopia is discovered during routine eye screening – without any symptoms having been noticed. The symptom of amblyopia is decreased visual acuity, but this is not usually found unless the child has her vision checked.
An eye that deviates, cloudiness in one eye, or any signs or symptoms of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism might suggest that amblyopia is developing as a result.
How long does it last?
If normal vision is not restored to the eye by about age 6, some degree of vision loss will probably be permanent. Usually a lazy eye should be diagnosed by age 3 in order to restore normal vision to that eye by age 6.
How is it diagnosed?
A March 2002 policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies have vision screening (including screening for strabismus and amblyopia) at the earliest possible age, and at regular intervals throughout childhood. Rather than relying on informal or subjective assessments of vision, the policy discusses photoscreening, a new test that can make checking vision easier and more accurate for even very young babies. A specially equipped camera takes their picture and a computer or a person analyzes the eye data obtained. Ask your pediatrician about having your baby screened.
If there are abnormal results on vision screening, or any reason to suspect amblyopia, the child should have a complete eye exam as soon as possible.
How is it treated?
The key to treating amblyopia is starting early. The first order of business is to identify and plan to treat the underlying cause of the amblyopia if it is still present.
It is also important to temporarily block vision in the better eye so that the child will use and exercise the “lazy” eye. This process may go on for weeks or months or even years.
Eye patches have long been a standard treatment for amblyopia. But children and parents alike sometimes have a tough time following through. Even if the child is initially enthusiastic about looking like a pirate, the patch ordeal can soon get old. It did in my house.
I was pleased to see a study published in the March 2002 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology that tested children with amblyopia at 47 different clinical sites. Half received patching (6 hours a day for 6 months); the other half were treated with blurring eye drops in the good eye (one drop of atropine a day for 6 months).
Treatment was successful (at least 3 lines of vision improvement, or vision brought to at least 20/30) in 79 percent of the patched kids and 74 percent of those receiving drops. Atropine drops appear to be a great treatment choice for some families.
posted by y-vonne at 5:56 AM
3 Comments:
Wow - that's a lot to take in.
It sounds like the specialists are taking good care of him - but I must admit that I'm very surprised and disappointed that Dr B didn't catch either one of those.
As for chiros, you probably know this but I have no trust in them whatsoever. Mark says he thinks they hook you in to having to go for adjustments for life, and once you start if you don't keep up you get worse because of the things they've done.
I'm hoping both conditions are well resolved, however you get there...
Lots on your plate. I am hugging the boy ...an the maman and the papa.
So sorry to hear the news and I share in your frustration. I'll be making an appt. for Grace to check out her hips soon. Keep us posted.
Post a Comment
<< Home