Amblyopia – lazy eye, eye drops useful more than Patch

It is most common cause of visual impairment in childhood. This condition affects 2 to 3 out of every 100 children. If this disease is not treated in early childhood , can persist into adulthood. Amblyopia can occur when one eye is more nearsighted or farsighted than the other. As a result , the brain begins favoring the stronger eye. The other eye gets weaker.

In many studies it is found that the bigger vision gains are made when the eye-drops & patches are use together. But often the patches are discarded by children on the other hand drops are useful because parents control the treatment. The eye-drops work by preventing a muscle in the stronger eye from constricting. As a result, when a child tries to read or focus on something close, the good eye is blurred.

When the harder force the weaker eye to focus , to work hard , helps it strengthen over time. But while children look at far objects , the eye doesn’t need to focus , so both eyes can be used for vision. Dr. Mitchell M. Scheiman said , “Many children do not wear the patch and their vision does not improve” , “Once the parents put the drops in the child’s eyes, there are no compliance problems. The child now has to use the amblyopic eye for all near work”.

Dr. Scheiman a professor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia says several studies show that the drops, which use the medication atropine, are safe. A few children may develop a fever or flushing, but they are typically switched to another medicated eyedrop. Medicated drops may make the children more sensitive to light because the pupil doesn’t constrict.