|
Age Related Macular Degeneration
Cataract
Eye Injuries
Glaucoma
Diabetes Eye Disease
New Zealand National Eye Bank Trust
|
|
|
Amblyopia, sometimes known as “lazy eye”, is poor
vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during
early childhood.
The best time to correct amblyopia is during infancy and
early childhood or poor vision will be permanent. Parents
must be aware of this potential problem if they wish to
protect their child’s vision.
Amblyopia usually only affects one eye, and is often due
to poor focusing or a turned eye (a squint or strabismus).
Rarely it may be due to cloudiness of the normally clear
eye tissues.
It is common affecting 2-3 out of 100 people.
|
|
|
It is not easy to recognise amblyopia. Young children with
poor vision are unaware of the problem. Unless a child has
a misaligned or turned eye, or other obvious abnormality,
there is often no way for the parents to tell that something
is wrong.
Amblyopia is detected through community vision screening
and surveillance programs. Children with a family history
of a turned eye, or a serious congenital eye condition such
as a congenital cataract may be referred to be seen by a
medical eye doctor (an Ophthalmologist).
|
|
|
Newborn infants are able to see, but as they use their eyes
during the first months of life vision quickly improves.
During early childhood the visual system continues to develop.
By the age of 7-8 years, the visual system is fully developed
and the nerve pathways cannot be changed.
The development of good vision in both eyes and straight
eyes is necessary for normal vision. Some occupations are
not open to people who have good vision in one eye only.
If the vision in one eye should be lost later in life from
an accident or eye disease, it is essential that the other
eye has good vision.
|
|
|
The Well Child-Tamariki Ora makes the following recommendations:
All newborns should have their eyes examined by 6 weeks
of age to look for rare but important congenital eye abnormalities
such as cataract. This should be undertaken by the lead
maternity carer, or be part of the 6 week medical check
at the family doctors.
During early childhood, the child’s visual development
may be assessed by a Well Child Provider Registered Nurse
such as Plunket Nurse, or by your Family Doctor.
It is recommended that all children have their vision checked
by the age of 4 years.
A National Vision Screening Programme is delivered by Vision
Hearing Technicians (VHT) in most parts of New Zealand at
this time for pre-school children and new entrant children.
Plunket also undertakes pre-school vision testing.
Pre-school testing is not universally available through
VHT in Auckland.
Free Pre-school testing is available in South Auckland through
an independent Government funded Pre-school Vision Screening
Programme. It is available for all children attending early
childcare centres, and also available at other community
venues.
|
|
|
Poor vision does not always mean that a child has amblyopia.
Some focusing problems which may need glasses to correct,
do not cause amblyopia.
The Ophthalmologist will use a variety of tests to measure
vision. Drops will be used to dilate the child’s pupils
and temporarily stop their focusing in order that the need
for glasses can be assessed. The inside of the eye will
also be carefully examined to look for other causes of poor
vision.
|
|
|
Glasses may be prescribed to correct errors in focusing,
and to help straighten a squinting eye. If glasses alone
do not improve vision then eye patching is necessary. The
better seeing eye is patched or covered for a period of
time each day, often for weeks or months. Occasionally,
amblyopia is treated by blurring the vision in the good
eye with special drops to force the child to use the amblyopic
eye. Part time patching treatment may need to occur until
8 years of age. After this age amblyopia usually does not
return.
|
|
Success mainly depends upon:
Carrying out the treatment of wearing glasses and eye patches.
Your interest and involvement is very important as children
don’t like having their eyes patched.
How old the child is when treatment is begun.
How severe the amblyopia is.
|
|
There is a Government subsidy available to assist children
from low-income families with vision problems (Community
Service Card, High Health Use Card). The subsidy is available
to children under 8 years of age.
The child is entitled to a maximum of $281.25 inc GST per
year.
An Optometrist or Ophthalmologist determines entitlement.
|
|
Royal New Zealand Plunket Society 0800933922 (White pages
PLUNKET SOCIETY)
Community Public Health Nurse Offices (see White pages)
South Auckland Vision Screening Programme ( Clendon , Manurewa.
Tel 2684590)
Spectacle Subsidy (Enable New Zealand 0800ENABLE (362253)
enable@enable.co.nz
|
