Lazy Eye..

[MommysLuv]

Hi,
i am 21 yrs old now i just found out i have lazy eye is there ANYTHING i can do?
my bro had the same prob but his was corrected...
i just hope its not to late to "TRY" :(

ty for response

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

The term "lazy eye" is non-specific: sometimes people use it to mean an eye muscle disorder where the eye turns outward (exotrohia), sometimes to mean a droopy eyelid (ptosis) and sometimes correctly to mean an eye that doesn't see normally.

Which problem do you have?

JCH III MD

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

I forgot to say that the specific term for an eye that doesn't see normal is "amblyopia"

Which do you have?

JCH III MD

[MommysLuv]

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Amblyopia is very difficult, almost impossible to treat at your age. That's why its so important for parents to take children in to have their eyes checked by an Ophthalmologist eye MD physician about the age of 3. If amblyopia is not diagnosised and treated prior to approximately age 5 it can't be treated.

Amblyopia affects one in 50 American children, however anyone with amblyopia has a 20% chance of children, grandchildren, siblings, niece, nephew, cousins having it.  

There are two causes of "regular" amblyopia:

1. the eyes are not straight and pointed at different objects. The brain stops using the central vision from one eye and it does not develop right. The amblyopic eye has peripheral vision but the central vision is suppressed.   If you have this type surgery to straighten your eye will not help you see better.

2. The eyes may be straight but one eye is highly far-sighted, near-sighted or astigmatic. The vision is very blurred so the brain suppresses it and uses the other eye.  If you have this a contact lens or refractive surgery may make you see some better but generally will not restore normal vision.

3. See a strabismus specialist (often they are called Pediatric Ophthalmologists but most do adult strabismus-amblyopia).

4. For goodness sake make sure EVERYONE of your blood relatives knows about the family history of amblyopia and has their children checked by a pediatric ophthalmologist about age 2 and a half to 3 years old. Sooner if bad vision is suspected or the eyes don't look straight.

JCH III MD

JCH III MD

[MommysLuv]

Thank you for that info
i was hopeful but i suppose there is no hope for a cure :(
i am very near sighted i was premature by almost 3 mo at birth
the dr had to make a choice...they say the oxygen created problems with my vision
and the Amblyopia is a side affect

i only hoped... :(