New Vision Screening Technology Speeds Up a Child’s Treatment

As two-year-old Jonathan plays with trucks, rides his Power Wheel and plays t-ball, one would have no idea he is afflicted with a leading cause of blindness in children.

Jonathan of Cape Girardeau was diagnosed in 2009 with amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” by his eye care specialist after he attended a free vision screening provided by the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation. Since his diagnosis, Jonathan has been undergoing a patching treatment every other day to strengthen his problematic lazy eye.

According to his mother, Michelle, she saw no symptoms of vision problems prior to the screening. “When the results of the screening came back, I was shocked. We had done the pencil test at home, and the pediatrician never picked up on any problems. I was still in doubt until we went to the actual eye doctor.”

Now that Jonathan’s vision has improved, Michelle can look back and identify subtle signs, such as his eye looking slightly turned in and watering when he tried to focus. “Now we don’t notice either of these anymore. He has improved tremendously!”

Jonathan was screened with the Foundation’s Plusoptix camera. This advanced system screens a child’s eyes and produces pass or fail results immediately as opposed to requiring a pediatric ophthalmologist’s review, which can take up to six weeks. The new technology allowed Jonathan to get on the road to treatment for lazy eye faster.

Said Michelle, “It took me two months to get him to an eye doctor. Waiting four to six weeks for results might have delayed it even longer. The earlier the treatment, the better. If a family doesn’t seek treatment early, the condition can be irreversible.”

You can help save the sight of a child like Jonathan in your community! Check out the Foundation’s new Volunteer section to find amblyopia screenings in your area and register to volunteer.