The Mystery Behind Lazy Eye

Lazy eye is a common term many of us have heard, but may not understand. Amblyopia, or lazy eye is when one eye develops good vision and the other doesn't. The condition is common, affecting one or two of every fifty people and can be corrected only if treated during infancy or early childhood. Parents should be alert to this threat because it will affect children's vision later in life. To catch this early, a complete eye exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist should be done for every child between the ages of three and five.

Michael S. Abrams, M.D. of Excel Eye Center is Utah County's only fellowship-trained specialist in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus. He has performed more than 2,000 surgical procedures and specializes in eye muscle surgery in both children and adults, tear duct repair in children and pediatric cataracts.

Dr. Abrams has a fun personality kids love. His ability to connect with children is what led him to specialize in pediatrics. "Children are fun to work with and easy to care for," says Dr. Abrams. "They're still at that point where going to the doctor can be an adventure."

Treating lazy eye requires forcing the weak eye to be used. This is usually done by temporarily patching the good eye or by blurring the vision in the good eye with eye drops or glasses. If the eyes are misaligned or an abnormality such as a cataract is discovered, Dr. Abrams may also prescribe medicine or surgery to correct the problem that is causing amblyopia. Time can be crucial to an amblyopic eye. If the problem is detected and treated early, most lazy eyes will have improved vision. If your child hasn’t had a complete eye exam and is over the age of 3, call Excel Eye Center of Orem and schedule an appointment with Dr. Abrams today. 801-426-9800.