Ambyopia

Three months we discovered that my six year old daughter has a lazy eye.  I took her to an ophthalmologist, and she got a prescription for glasses.  He said she has 20/20 vision in her right eye and 20/80 vision in her left eye, and she has zero depth perseption.  He said that the prescription in both eyes was about the same.  She was to wear her glasses for six weeks and return for a check up.  She just went back for her check up, and the eye exam was done with her glasses on, she could see everything with her right eye, but nothing with her left eye.  The doctor said that the alignment was improving in her left eye.  She is now to wear an eye patch over her right eye for 4 hours a day with her glasses on.  I understand the need for the eye patch.  What I am concerned about is that she can see better with her left eye without the glasses on.  Should her eyes be examined without her glasses on?  Is it better to wear the patch without her glasses?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Your daughters eye condition most likely is due to a small, not noticible misalignment of the eye "micro-trophia" and she is what we call a "monofixator". Her glasses undoubtedly are + plus numbers and she is farsighted. Unlike myope (nearsighted) people farsighted (hyperopic) can see without their glasses. The problem is when they focus to see clearly it pulls the eyes in a little bit.

So your daughter should wear her glasses all the time. The patch should be worn under the glasses and her vision should be taken with the glasses on and yes she can see clearly without the glasses buts that to be expected.

These problems often run in families so have all your kids, nieces and nephews checked by an Eye MD about the age of 3 to 4 years old.

JCH III MD