Bad Eyesight can affect Brain Development in children

CEBU, Philippines - It’s commonly passed off as a childhood condition that kids will outgrow, but contrary to popular belief, “lazy eye” can affect a child’s brain development later in life.

More properly known as amblyopia, lazy eye is an eye disorder that is caused by poor or blurred or no transmission of visual images from the eye to the brain. Specifically, the condition is brought about by 1.) a difference in the refractive state of both eyes, i.e, one eye may be normal and the other near/farsighted; 2.) an undiagnosed and uncorrected refractive error that results in blurred vision in both eyes ; 3.) misaligned eyes; and 4.) visual deprivation, as is the case in congenital cataracts or cloudy lenses. All these result to amblyopia, and if left untreated, the part of the brain corresponding to the visual system from the affected eye/s is not stimulated properly, and develops abnormally – as proven in a Nobel Prize-winning study by Hubel & Wiesel in 1981.

Amblyopia is just one of the more serious eye disorders that may occur in children. Diseases like this are highly preventable, reversible, and treatable IF detected early, that is why parents are encouraged to pay close attention to their children, especially those aged 0 to 3 years old, the period where visual development is most rapid, and to have their kids’ eyes screened.

Dr. Loren Ong, a pediatric ophthalmology expert from ACES Eye Referral Clinics, offers some quick tips to parents on how to determine if your child is suffering from visual disorders.

First, try covering one of your child’s eyes, and then the other. If the child tries to pry away your hand, one of his/her eyes may have an undiagnosed condition.

Second, when kids make up new words or often misspell the notes they copy from the blackboard. This could be a symptom of farsightedness or nearsightedness. How near s/he also sits from the TV is an indication.

Lastly, the inability to finish homework may be due to bad eyesight in children – blurred or double vision may be the culprit.

“The main thing that parents should keep in mind is to have their children screened by experts,” Dr. Ong relates, “Sometimes, we hastily conclude that our child may be of lower intelligence, when in fact, only his/her vision is causing what we perceive to be learning disabilities.”

Dr. Ong encourages parents who suspect that their children may be suffering from eye disorders to schedule a consultation at ACES. Even those who do not see anything wrong are encouraged to bring their kids along just to make sure that their kid’s eyesight is all right.

With two locations in Perpetual Succour Hospital and Cebu (Velez) General Hospital, ACES Eye Referral Clinics is made up of a group of eye experts who are sought after by their colleagues and in the academe who offer you the eye care you need and deserve – at whatever age.