Childhood Eye Diseases and Conditions

There are many eye conditions and diseases that can affect a child’s vision. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to maintaining your child’s eye health. See below some of the more common issues and diseases.

Amblyopia (lazy eye)

Amblyopia or “lazy eye” describes weak vision or vision loss in one eye that cannot be fully corrected with lenses.

It usually develops in children before age eight. This is also the key time to treat amblyopia, since results are better the earlier they are implemented. It becomes extremely difficult to treat amblyopia after age eight. Untreated, amblyopia can lead to total blindness in the affected eye.

Amblyopia is more than simply an eye health problem. It involves the “wiring” of the nerve impulses from the eyes to the brain. Treatment typically includes vision therapy, eyeglasses and contact lenses, or a patch. Surgery alone cannot treat amblyopia.

All content is provided for education and information, and is no substitute for the advice of your optometrist. This information is provided courtesy of the BC Doctors of Optometry. The BC Doctors of Optometry assumes no responsibility or liability arising from any errors or omissions or from the use of any information contained herein.