Amblyopic children can be treated with vision therapy (which often includes patching one eye), atropine eye drops, the correct prescription for nearsightedness or farsightedness, or surgery.

Vision therapy exercises the eyes and helps both eyes work as a team. Vision therapy for someone with amblyopia forces the brain to see through the amblyopic eye, thus restoring vision.

Sometimes the eye doctor or vision therapist will place a patch over the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to learn to see. Patching may be required for several hours each day or even all day long, and may continue for weeks or months.

In some children, atropine eye drops have been used to treat amblyopia instead of patching. One drop is placed in the child's good eye each day (the parent can do this). Atropine blurs vision in the good eye, which forces the child to use the eye with amblyopia more, to strengthen it. One advantage is that it doesn't require constant vigilance on the part of the parent to make sure the child wears the patch.

Amblyopia will not go away on its own, and untreated amblyopia can lead to permanent visual problems and poor depth perception. If later in life the child's stronger eye develops disease or is injured, he or she will be dependent on the poor vision of the amblyopic eye, so it is best to treat amblyopia early on.

Strabismus is a condition where your eyes don't look toward the same object together. One eye moves normally, while the other points in (esotropia or "crossed eyes"), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia). Strabismus can lead to amblyopia. Strabismus is the physical disorder, and amblyopia is the visual consequence.

Strabismus is a condition where your eyes don't look toward the same object together. One eye moves normally, while the other points in (esotropia or "crossed eyes"), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia). Strabismus can lead to amblyopia. Strabismus is the physical disorder, and amblyopia is the visual consequence.

Strabismus may be caused by unequal pulling of muscles on one side of the eye or a paralysis of the ocular muscles. Occasionally, when a farsighted child tries to focus to compensate for the farsightedness, he or she will develop accommodative strabismus. This condition usually appears before two years of age, and can occur as late as six.

Treatment for strabismus is similar to amblyopia treatment: vision therapy including patching or visual exercises, glasses with the correct prescription or bifocal or prism correction to aid in proper focusing, eyedrops to help focus, or surgery. Surgery will correct the misaligned eyes but cannot resolve amblyopia caused by strabismus.

Before scheduling a child for surgery, the doctor might inject the ocular muscles with Botox (botulinum), which temporarily relaxes the muscles. In some cases, strabismus is permanently corrected in this way.

Sometimes infants appear to have crossed eyes, yet the eyes are truly straight. The cause for pseudostrabismus is presence of a wide nasal bridge or extra folds of skin between the nose and the inside of the eye that make the child have a cross-eyed appearance. Most children outgrow this problem, but you should contact your doctor for an examination. Your pediatrician can tell whether a child has misaligned eyes or just pseudostrabismus, but in some instances, a visit to an ophthalmologist is necessary for further tests.

Your Eye M.D. (ophthalmologists) recommends the following schedule for eye examinations:

Children (Age at which screening for eye disease by a pediatrician, nurse or trained screener should take place)

• Once between age newborn to 3 months
• Once between age 6 months to 1 year
• Once at age 3 years (approximately)
• Once at age 5 years (approximately)

Adults (Comprehensive medical eye exam by an Eye M.D., ophthalmologist)

• Once between age 20 and 39
• Every two to four years between age 40 to 64
• Every one to two years for persons age 65 and older
• Some factors may put your child, or yourself, at increased risk for eye disease. If any of these factors applies to you or your child, check with your Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist) to see how often you should have a medical eye exam: - Developmental delay - Premature birth - Personal or family history of eye disease - Dark skin individuals - Previous serious eye injury - Use of certain medications (check with your Eye M.D) - Some diseases that affect the whole body (such as diabetes or HIV infection

If the white of your child's eye and the inside of his lower lid become red, he probably has a condition called conjunctivitis. Also known as "pink eye" or "red eye," this inflammation usually signals an infection but may be due to other causes, such as an irritation, an allergic reaction or (rarely) a more serious illness.

It's often accompanied by tearing and discharge, which is the body's way of trying to heal or remedy the situation.

If your child has a red eye, he needs to see the pediatrician as soon as possible. The doctor will make the diagnosis, prescribe the necessary medication, and show you how to cleanse the eyelids. Never put previously opened medication or someone else's eye medication into your child's eye. It could cause serious damage. In the newborn baby, serious eye infections may result from exposure to bacteria during passage through the birth canal, which is why all infants are treated with antibiotic eye ointment or drops in the delivery room.

Such infections must be treated early to prevent serious complications. Eye infections that occur after the newborn period may be unsightly, because of the redness of the eye and the yellow discharge that usually accompanies them, and they may make your child uncomfortable, but they are rarely serious.

Several different viruses, or occasionally bacteria, may cause them, and topical antibiotics (eyedrops prescribed by your pediatrician) are the usual treatment. Eye infections typically last up to one week and may be contagious. Except to administer drops or ointment, you should avoid direct contact with your child's eyes or drainage from them until the medication has been used for several days and there is evidence of clearing of the redness.

Carefully wash your hands before and after touching the area around the infected eye. If your child is in a day-care or nursery-school program, you should keep him home until the eyes are no longer red.

You can treat many minor eye irritations by flushing the eye, but more serious injuries require medical attention. Injuries to the eye are the most common preventable cause of blindness; so when in doubt, err on the side of caution and call for help.

Routine Irritations (sand, dirt, and other "foreign bodies" on the eye surface)

• Do not try to remove any "foreign body" except by flushing.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the eyelids to examine or flush the eye.
• Do not touch, press, or rub the eye, and do whatever you can to keep the child from touching it (a baby can be swaddled as a preventive measure).
• Tilt the child's head over a basin with the affected eye down and gently pull down the lower lid, encouraging the child to open her eyes as wide as possible. For an infant or small child, it is helpful to have a second person hold the child's eyes open while you flush.
• Gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm water from a pitcher across the eye. Sterile saline solution can also be used.
• Flush for up to fifteen minutes, checking the eye every five minutes to see if the foreign body has been flushed out.
• Since a particle can scratch the cornea and cause an infection, the eye should be examined by a doctor if there continues to be any irritation afterwards.
• If a foreign body is not dislodged by flushing, it will probably be necessary for a trained medical practitioner to flush the eye.

What if something penetrated my child's eye - Call for emergency medical help. - Cover both eyes (the unaffected eye must be covered to prevent movement of the affected eye). If the object is small, use eye patches or sterile dressing for both. If the object is large, cover the injured eye with a small cup taped in place and the other eye with an eye patch or sterile dressing. The point is to keep all pressure off the globe of the eye. - Keep your child (and yourself) as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.

What if something penetrated my child's eye - Call for emergency medical help. - Cover both eyes (the unaffected eye must be covered to prevent movement of the affected eye). If the object is small, use eye patches or sterile dressing for both. If the object is large, cover the injured eye with a small cup taped in place and the other eye with an eye patch or sterile dressing. The point is to keep all pressure off the globe of the eye. - Keep your child (and yourself) as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives. What if a chemical entered my child's eyes - Many chemicals, even those found around the house, can damage an eye. If your child gets a chemical in the eye and you know what it is, look on the product's container for an emergency number to call for instructions. - Flush the eye (see above) with lukewarm water for 15 to 30 minutes. If both eyes are affected, do it in the shower. - Call for emergency medical help. - Call your local poison control center for specific instructions. Be prepared to give the exact name of the chemical (if you have it). - Cover both eyes with sterile dressings, and keep them covered until help arrives. What to do if my child get a black eye A black eye is often a minor injury, but it can also appear when there is significant eye injury or head trauma. A visit to your doctor or an eye specialist may be required to rule out serious injury, particularly if you're not certain of the cause of the black eye. For a "simple" black eye: - Apply cold compresses intermittently: five minutes to 10 minutes on, 10 minutes to 15 minutes off. If you are not at home when the injury occurs and there is no ice available, a cold soda will do to start. If you use ice, make sure it is covered with a towel or sock to protect the delicate skin on the eyelid. - Use cold compresses for 24 to 48 hours, then switch to applying warm compresses intermittently. This will help the body reabsorb the leakage of blood and may help reduce discoloration. - If the child is in pain, give acetaminophen? Not aspirin or ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding. - Prop the child's head with an extra pillow at night, and encourage her to sleep on the uninjured side of her face (pressure can increase swelling). - Call your doctor, who may recommend an in-depth evaluation to rule out damage to the eye. Call immediately if any of the following symptoms appear: * increased redness * drainage from the eye * persistent eye pain * distorted vision * any visible abnormality of the eyeball If the injury occurred during one of your child's routine activities such as a sport, follow up by investing in an ounce of prevention - protective goggles or unbreakable glasses are vitally important. What if my child needs to wear glasses Shortly after birth, your baby's eyes should be examined for vision problems and signs of disease. An infant's eyes can be checked by an ophthalmologist through a dilated pupil even though the tiny patient is too young to give verbal responses to testing. Remember, the earlier any potential problem is detected, the earlier it can be corrected. If your child needs glasses, there are several factors to consider when purchasing them. Get the Best Lenses For most children, the ideal lens is made of polycarbonate. It's strong, lightweight and shatterproof, safety factors for active toddlers and budding athletes. Polycarbonate does scratch easily, so a scratch-resistant coating is usually a good idea. Find the Right Frames and a Good Fit

The lens prescription will frequently influence what sort of frame you should choose for your child's glasses; certain kinds of frames work poorly with certain kinds of lenses. Your Eye M.D. will explain the options. When possible, purchase glasses from a pediatric ophthalmologist, and be sure to investigate the various devices available to ensure a proper fit: - Silicone nose pads with non-skid surfaces will prevent frames from slipping. - Comfort cables secure children's glasses by wrapping around their ears. Comfort cable temples are available for frame sizes worn by infants one to four years old. - Flexible hinges bend outward, useful for a child who pulls the temples away from their head when removing their glasses. - Straps may be needed to replace ear pieces in babies. Infants wearing straps are able to roll or lay on their side without discomfort or dislodging the glasses. - Shop for your child the way you would for yourself? try to match the frame style to the child's facial shape and features. The more a kid likes their glasses, the more care they may take with them. Selling Your Child on Glasses

If the child is old enough, let him or her choose the frames. Say nice things about your child's new glasses, and talk to siblings beforehand to keep teasing to a minimum. Some infants will simply refuse to wear the glasses and pull them off. Don't fight it, just be persistent. Put the glasses on the baby and then stage some sort of distraction. If the baby pulls them off again, set them aside and wait awhile before trying again. If you have questions about the fit of the glasses, take your child back to the Eye doctor If your child continues to remove the glasses, talk to your doctor for further help.

Infants and children are more susceptible to UV damage because the lenses in their eyes are clearer. Please take the following steps when taking your children outdoors:

• Keep children younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Choose the shade, an umbrella, or a baby stroller when outside with a very young child or infant. Make sure the stroller has a shade for the sun.
• To help ensure your children wear their sunglasses, allow them to select a style they like. Many manufacturers make frames with cartoon characters or multi-colored frames.
• Make sure your child wears a wide-brimmed hat or a baseball cap, which provides some UV protection, if he/she will not tolerate sunglasses.
• Try to keep children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun's rays are the strongest at these hours.
• Be sure to wear sunglasses or a hat outside yourself. Children often follow the example of their parents.
• Remind children to wear their sunglasses or a hat even on cloudy days. Most of the sun's rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day.
• Teach your children to never look directly or stare at the sun.