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Abraham Lincoln was farsighted and had amblyopia.
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4 percent of children have amblyopia.
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Babies have poor vision at birth. They learn to see the same way they learn to talk- both habits and muscles must be developed over time.
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Good vision is a matter of teamwork. If a child’s eyes are not aligned properly or one eye has poor vision the brain receives pictures that it cannot fuse together and vision in one or both of the eyes can be suppressed.
Amblyopia or "lazy eye" is a condition that occurs when the brain ignores messages or information sent from one eye. Eventually the "weak" eye will quit trying to work properly and the stronger eye will take over, leading to vision problems. The condition can occur either because of a focusing problem where one eye is more nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic than the other or because of a misalignment of the eyes where one or both eyes cross in or turn out.
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| Photo, courtesy of National Eye Institute |
It is estimated
that 4 percent of American children suffer from
amblyopia. Most young children are
unable to verbalize their vision problems
to their parents and even if they could
they do not realize that the fuzzy vision
they are experiencing is abnormal. Many
children with amblyopia do not display
any outward symptoms making it difficult
to detect without a screening and full
eye exam with an eye care professional.
The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation’s vision-screening program offers a preliminary screening that can locate amblyopia as well as other vision problems that can lead to amblyopia if not corrected early in life. The free vision screens are offered to children between 6 months and 5 years of age. Detecting vision problems during this time period is crucial, because the visual system is still developing making problems easier to correct with treatment.
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Screening for amblyopia is a very quick and simple process. Foundation staff or trained volunteers use a special camera that intentionally creates a “red eye” effect when photographing the child’s eye. A pediatric ophthalmologist then studies the photograph to determine if the “red eye” reflection signals a possible vision problem. Once this determination has been made, the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation notifies the parents of any possible abnormalities and suggests the child have a full exam with an eye care professional. The screenings are safe, simple and comfortable for the child, and could make a big difference to that child’s future.
If you are interested in setting up a screening please call Tina Twenter at
800-753-2265 ext. 8518 or contact her via the form below. If you would
like to view our current screening calendar click
here.
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Amblyopia Prevention Program 
