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Amblyopia

Amblyopia or “lazy eye” is a neuro-developmental vision problem that occurs during infancy and early childhood. Those with amblyopia experience reduced eyesight typically in one eye, even when best corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Left untreated, amblyopia can affect a child’s school performance, sports, ambition, self-image, even friendships. 

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Amblyopia typically occurs when there is a disruption in normal development of an infant or toddler in their binocular in one of the following ways:

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  1. Strabismic Amblyopia – This common form of amblyopia occurs when the eyes are misaligned, a condition known as strabismus. To avoid double vision, the brain shuts off or suppresses the weaker eye.

  2. Refractive Amblyopia –This form of amblyopia occurs when there is a significant difference in the focus between the two eyes due to significantly uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism.  This interferes with the sight development in the affected eye and results in interference of the individual’s learning to use the two eyes together as a team (binocular dysfunction

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When either of the two conditions exists, a neurological condition called suppression results—i.e., the brain turns off or ignores the incoming signals from the affected eye.

Symptoms typically include:

  • Squinting or shutting an eye

  • Impaired depth perception

  • Poor eye-hand coordination

  • Tripping and/or accident prone

  • Slower reading speed and comprehension

  • Visual Processing deficits

TREATMENT – BEYOND PATCHING

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The old-fashioned way (1800’s through the latter part of the 20th century) of addressing amblyopia was to patch the better eye.   One major problem with that approach was poor compliance (and parental frustration).  

 

Imagine trying to function seeing only through the amblyopic eye.   This form of treatment also presented the following problems: 

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  • Is very uncomfortable for the patient

  • Has multiple negative side effects involving safety; academic performance; development of motor skills, balance, and coordination; and even self-image.

  • Has limited results based on age and usually not recommended past age 10

  • Does not usually develop the patient’s ability to obtain normal binocular vision with depth perception

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At Vital Vision we treat amblyopia with intensive office-based combined with individually prescribed home vision therapy for more effective results. We address amblyopia with a personalized approach. Each session is one-on-one (therapist-to-patient), conducted under doctor supervision. We utilize the latest 21st century technology and methods. Furthermore, our treatment is designed for all ages.

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Our advanced treatment includes

  • In-Office and Home-Support Virtual Reality

  • Intensive Binocular Vision Therapy

  • Visual Processing Development

  • Ocular motor (aiming, tracking, and fixation stability) Vision Therapy

  • Eye-Hand Coordination Development

  • Accommodation “Eye Focusing” Therapy

  • Stereopsis (3-D vision) development  

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