Richard, age 4 1/2, never showed any signs of vision problems growing up. However, during a Foundation screening, Richard was found to be at risk of amblyopia, or "lazy eye," a condition prevalent in children that can lead to severe vision problems as they grow older.
Richard's mother, Sherri, was understandably concerned at first. "It worried me because I didn't know what it was," she remarked. "After researching it online, I found it to be lazy eye. We had him in to the doctor within a week of getting the paperwork back from the amblyopia screening. We soon found out he had to get glasses."
Like many children Richard's age, he's not a fan of wearing his new glasses, but when he does, his eyesight is considerably improved. Said Sherri, "He recognizes things more and does his schoolwork better. He also plays games more, and because he can see better, he can play them better."
Sherri encourages other parents and childcare centers to recognize the importance of free amblyopia screenings. Like Sherri, many parents are unaware their children have a potentially serious eye condition since kids under the age of five rarely display the signs. "Even if parents don't suspect their kids are having problems, it would be a good idea to get them screened."
Because poor vision can lead to a variety of problems, including learning disabilities, it's critical that children are screened early on in childhood for amblyopia. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the faster a doctor can treat the problem and get the child on the road to great eyesight sooner.
