How Is Amblyopia Diagnosed?

Your child's pediatrician or the vision program at school will check three aspects of your child's eye health:

1. That your child's eyes let light all the way through
2. That both eyes see equally well
3. That the eyes are moving normally.

Amblyopia and Child's Eyes

Amblyopia is a condition that occurs in children when one eye has poorer vision than the other. If amblyopia is left untreated, a child's vision will not develop correctly. The child's brain, as it matures, will start "ignoring" the image coming from the bad eye. This causes vision in the affected eye to become even worse as the child becomes a teenager. Because amblyopia can result in permanent vision loss in one eye, it is important to have a child with amblyopia regularly tested by an eye doctor.

What Causes Amblyopia?

Amblyopia is usually starts when one eye has much better focus than the other eye. For example, one eye might be very nearsighted or have a lot of astigmatism , while the other does not. When the child's brain is confronted with both a blurry image and a clear image, it will begin to ignore the blurry image. If this goes on for months or years, the vision in the eye that sees the blurry image will start to deteriorate even further. Another possible result of the brain ignoring the poorly functioning eye is a change in the alignment of the eyes, with the poorly seeing eye turning inwards or outwards. This is why amblyopia is sometimes called "lazy eye."

Another form of lazy eye that can cause amblyopia is called strabismus. Strabismus or ocular misalignment prevents the eyes from focusing together on an image. This can cause double vision. In order to combat this, the child's brain generally chooses to ignore the image from the deviated eye, causing the vision in that eye to eventually deteriorate.

Other children cannot see well in one eye because there something blocks light from getting through. This could be due, among other causes, to a cataract or a small amount of blood or other material in the back of the eye.

Before Buying Contact Lenses Online

With how expensive contact lenses are, and how many insurance plans have little or no vision coverage, many people are turning to sources for contact lenses online, which usually offer large discounts over the regular costs. Getting contact lens online can be a great option, but there are somethings to be aware of before you buy. If you have never had contact lenses before, it is a good idea to get your first set from your ophthalmologist’s office. While may be more expensive, you will also have someone who can help you learn how to put them in, make sure you have a good fit, and show you how to take care of them. If you have had contacts before, make sure that you are able to get the same type of contact lenses online, so that you will have the kind of lenses you need. Before you buy, take the time to compare prices. While many places that sell contact lenses online are less expensive than brick and mortar stores, you may find that there is a local store that has a discount as good as or better than you can find online, or your insurance may partly cover contact lenses from specific sellers. Don't forget taxes and cost of shipping when you are comparing prices either. Many online contact lens store offer free shipping, but not all of them, and sometimes only if you meet their qualifications. Make sure to compare different online stores as well. Different places that sell contact lenses online offer different prices, different shipping options, and different styles of contact. Some places may offer a discount if you order a full year’s supply at once, others may only offer free shipping within a certain area or if you spend enough money on your order. Being able to get contact lenses online is a great option for many people, whether because of the convenience, the cost or the variety of options. Just make sure that before you buy you have looked at all your options to be sure of what is best for you.