For more than 35 years, Alan B. Richards, MD, has worked as a pediatric ophthalmologist with specialization in eye muscle disorders for Highland Clinic and Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. Alan B. Richards, MD, deals with a variety of eye ailments in children, including amblyopia.
Also known as lazy eye, amblyopia is one of the most common forms of visual disabilities in children. Humans have poor vision at birth, but the vision typically improves as they age due to the maturing connection between the brain and eye. Sometimes this maturation process can have issues, such as when eyes become misaligned or have cataracts. To correct this problem, ophthalmologists may suggest that the child wear a patch to force him or her to use the weaker eye. However, medical professionals have found that the patching effectiveness is limited if the child or parent does not comply, and is not effective in severe cases after the child turns 10.
In November 2016, MIT announced the publication of a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describing how researchers temporarily inactivated animals’ retinas with an anesthetic, and this procedure basically reset the brain. Comparing it to restarting a piece of electronic equipment, this process enables the deprived eye to form a stronger connection to the brain without any penalty to the stronger eye. Furthermore, the researchers found that once the animals entered adulthood, this recovery was permanent.
Also known as lazy eye, amblyopia is one of the most common forms of visual disabilities in children. Humans have poor vision at birth, but the vision typically improves as they age due to the maturing connection between the brain and eye. Sometimes this maturation process can have issues, such as when eyes become misaligned or have cataracts. To correct this problem, ophthalmologists may suggest that the child wear a patch to force him or her to use the weaker eye. However, medical professionals have found that the patching effectiveness is limited if the child or parent does not comply, and is not effective in severe cases after the child turns 10.
In November 2016, MIT announced the publication of a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describing how researchers temporarily inactivated animals’ retinas with an anesthetic, and this procedure basically reset the brain. Comparing it to restarting a piece of electronic equipment, this process enables the deprived eye to form a stronger connection to the brain without any penalty to the stronger eye. Furthermore, the researchers found that once the animals entered adulthood, this recovery was permanent.
