Amblyopia Treatment
Vision Therapy for Amblyopia Treatment
Vision therapy (VT) for Amblyopia is a clinically proven treatment that can improve your child's visual development and quality of life. At Vision Development of WNY, our experienced behavioral optometrists use advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques to improve the visual skills of children and adults affected by Amblyopia.
What Is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia, often called 'lazy eye,' or "wandering eye," is a vision development disorder where one eye fails to achieve normal sight, usually due to misalignment or difference in prescription strength. Unlike typical eyesight issues that can be corrected with glasses or contacts, Amblyopia stems from poor visual processing between the brain and the affected eye.
Traditionally, patching the “working” eye was the only method to treat Amblyopia. However, patching has been found to have limited long-term results and does not develop or improve depth perception or normal binocular vision.
Common Causes of Amblyopia
This condition typically begins in infancy or early childhood. Common causes of Amblyopia include:
- Refractive Errors or Focusing Ability
When there is a significant difference in the focusing ability between the two eyes, it can result in Amblyopia. - Strabismus (Misalignment of the Eyes)
Strabismus involves the eyes pointing in different directions. - Light Deprivation Amblyopia
Any condition that blocks light from entering the eye during early childhood can lead to Amblyopia. This includes congenital cataracts or droopy eyelids (ptosis).
Symptoms of Amblyopia
Common symptoms or indicators of Amblyopia:
- One eye wandering inward or outward
- Poor depth perception
- Squinting or closing one eye
- Head tilting
- Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Difficulties with schoolwork or eye-hand coordination activities
- Difficulty with ball sports
Vision Therapy for Treating Amblyopia in Children & Adults
Vision therapy is a highly effective, non-surgical treatment for Amblyopia that involves a series of eye activities and techniques designed to improve the visual skills of the affected eye. This therapy works by stimulating the brain to use the weaker eye more effectively, fostering proper visual development and depth perception. Vision Therapy uses specialized tools like lenses, prisms, and virtual reality devices to improve focusing, eye-tracking, eye-teaming, and spatial skills.
Benefits of Vision Therapy:
- Improves communication between the brain and the affected eye
- Enhances visual acuity and depth perception
- Improves eye coordination and focus
- Facilitates better reading and learning capabilities
- Improves eye-hand and body coordination
- Increases confidence and overall quality of life
There's Hope in Sight!
If you suspect your child may have Amblyopia, Vision therapy offers a clinically proven, non-invasive approach to improve your child's vision. Schedule an appointment with our Behavioral Optometrist today.