How Can Childhood Amblyopia Be Treated?

Children with amblyopia can be treated through wearing glasses, patching therapy, visual training, and other methods. If the above treatments are ineffective, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and undergo drug or surgical treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

1. Wearing Glasses: If a child has refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc., it may lead to decreased vision and cause amblyopia. In this case, the child should visit the ophthalmology department of the hospital and select suitable frame glasses or corneal contact lenses under the guidance of a professional doctor to correct vision.

2. Patching Therapy: This method involves using differently colored eye patches to cover the healthy eye, forcing the amblyopic eye to see objects, thus stimulating the recovery of vision in the amblyopic eye. However, this method is usually suitable for younger children and requires long-term adherence to be effective.

3. Visual Training: This mainly includes fine visual acuity training and stereoscopic vision function training. The former involves making children perform fine manual tasks, such as threading beads and tracing red lines, to improve their hand-eye coordination and visual discrimination abilities. The latter involves providing children with items such as highly three-dimensional pictures and toys to enable them to perceive the spatial relationship of objects, thereby exercising their binocular fusion ability and stereoscopic vision.

For some cases of amblyopia caused by congenital cataracts, vitamin AD drops can be used under the guidance of a doctor to promote calcium absorption. Additionally, lecithin-iodine complex capsules can be taken orally to improve microcirculation and gradually restore vision.

If a child has congenital ptosis of the upper eyelid, which affects the entry of light into the eye, it can also easily lead to amblyopia. In such cases, the doctor may perform a levator palpebrae superioris shortening surgery to treat the condition. This surgery can significantly improve the appearance of the eyes and assist in alleviating amblyopia symptoms.

In daily life, parents should encourage children to use their eyes reasonably, avoiding prolonged exposure to electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers, to prevent worsening of the condition. Additionally, a diet rich in vitamins, such as carrots and kiwi fruits, can help promote recovery from the disease.