How is amblyopia treated?

To correct amblyopia, a child must be made to use the weak eye. This is usually done by patching or covering the strong eye, often for weeks or months. Even after vision has been restored in the weak eye, part–time patching may be required over a period of years to maintain the improvement. Glasses may be prescribed to correct errors in focusing. If glasses alone do not improve vision, then patching is necessary. Occasionally, amblyopia is treated by blurring the vision in the good eye with special eye drops or lenses to force the child to use the amblyopic eye.

What are the safety measures for eye care at home?

To provide the safety:

• Select games and toys that are appropriate for your child’s age and responsibility level.
• Provide adequate supervision and instruction when your children are handling potentially dangerous items, such as pencils, scissors and pen knives. Be aware that even common household items such as paper clips, elastic cords, wire coat hangers, rubber bands can cause serious eye injury.
• Avoid projectile toys such as darts and bows and arrows. They are extremely dangerous.
• Keep all chemicals and sprays out of reach of small children.
• Do not allow children to ignite fireworks or stand near others who are doing so. All fireworks are potentially dangerous for children of any age.
• Demonstrate the use of protective eyewear to children by always wearing protective eyewear yourself while using power tools, hammering on metal.

What is Low vision?

If ordinary eyeglasses, contact lenses or intraocular lens implants don’t give you clear vision, you are said to have low vision. Don’t confuse this condition with blindness. People with low vision still have useful vision that can often be improved with visual devices. Whether your visual impairment is mild or severe, low vision generally means that your vision does not meet your needs. Using visual devices to improve your vision usually begins after your ophthalmologist has completed medical or surgical treatment or determined that such treatments will not improve your vision.

What causes Low vision?

Though most often experienced by the elderly, people of all ages may be affected. Low vision can occur from birth defects, inherited diseases, injuries, diabetes, glaucoma, cataract and aging. The most common cause is macular degeneration, a disease of the retina, the inner layer of the eye that senses light and allows you to see. Macular degeneration causes damage to central vision. It does not cause total blindness, because side (peripheral) vision is not affected.

Are there different types of low vision?

Yes. Although reduced central or reading vision is most common, low vision may also result from decreased side (peripheral) vision, or a loss of color vision. Or, your eye might lose the ability to adjust to light, contrast or glare. Different types of low vision may require different kinds of assistance. For example, people born with low vision have different needs from those who develop low vision later in life.