Lazy eyes

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A lazy eye can be reduced in children by using the effected eye more often.

Our eyes are our windows to the world and the retina at the back of the eye receives the images and transmits them to the brain for us to give us the beautiful sense of vision. But sometimes, when all functions of both eyes seem to be normal, the brain does not appreciate one of the eyes and this is termed as Lazy eye or Ambylopia.

All babies are born with a poor eyesight, but as they grow it gets better. For good eyesight, there needs to be a focused image in both the eyes as the visual message is carried along the pathways from the eye to the brain. In some children, when the image is not as clear as it should be the pathways do not develop as much and in fact may get worse. If one eye sees clearly and the other eyes sees a blur, the good eye and the brain will ignore the weaker eye and the inhibition process results in permanent decrease of vision of the affected eye. This is how Ambylopia or lazy eye develops.

The first six years of life are crucial as it is during this time there is complete development of vision. If during this period if there is any obstruction of vision, lazy eye may develop. If a child has squint, the probability of a lazy eye is high. There are some conditions in which drooping of eyelid causes partial obstruction of vision and thereby a lazy eye.

Unfortunately there are not many symptoms, which can alert the parents to know that such a problem can exist. But sometimes, a teacher at school can notice that one of the children has watering of the eyes and strains to look at the blackboard and she can advise the parent accordingly. To see that the vision in the lazy eye is restored to it's maximum extent, the proverb `practice makes a man perfect' needs to be followed. The weaker eye should be compelled to see most of the time by masking the better eye for a few hours every day. This insists the eye to develop the pathways to the brain and thereby improves the vision. It is best done before 10 years of age as most of the visual development is completed by that age.

Homoeopathic Medicine can chip in too by improving the receptiveness and also curtailing the progressing short-sightedness in the affected eye. If there is weakness of the ocular muscles leading to disturbed vision in the eye, Aurum met, Causticum and Gelsemium are helpful.

Associated with headaches in children, Natrum Mur is of use. Onosmodium helps if there is difficulty in coordination of the eyes.

Phosphorus and Physostigma are of known importance if the increasing myopia is a constraint.

Dr.Venugopal Gouri
drvenugopal@gmail.com
92463 72625 (mobile)