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Amblyopia is when one eye sees a blurrier image than the companion eye due to problems from infancy. This can result from imbalanced focusing (anisometropia) or crossed eyes (strabismus). A combination of glasses, patching, atropine drops, or surgery can be utilized to help this condition. Amblyopia can be difficult to detect and is best treated before the child is 7 years.

Strabismus represents the misalignment of the two eyes in an inward (esotropic), outward (exotropic) or vertical (hypertropic) direction. While it can be a cause for cosmetic problems, the presence of strabismus can lead to decreased vision, double vision, and loss of depth perception. The causes of strabismus are variable and it's presence warrants a thorough evaluation. Treatment is directed to straightening to eyes with either glasses or surgical correction.

Infants and toddlers with chronic tearing, mattering, and discharge from their eyes can have narrowing or obstruction of thin ducts that drain tears from the eyes down into the nose. The majority of these improve spontaneously by age one year. If persistent, a quick surgical "probing" can restore patency and normal tear flow.

As we age, proteins in the normally clear lens of the eye begin to alter and cloud the otherwise translucent visual pathways. This is the process of cataract formation. While many cataractous changes are expected and are not treatening, once the lens has opacified sufficiently -- where vision is blurry -- then glasses cannot help and cataract surgical extraction is recommended.

Fluid pressure inside the eye is carefully regulated, but in 2-3% of patients, the pressure increases and can damage the optic nerve. This results in slow and insidious loss of peripheral vision if not treated. The goal of glaucoma treatment then is to use drops or surgery to minimize the pressure elevation of the eye.

Aging changes in certain individuals causes atrophy and thinning of the central part of the retina - the macula. These degenerative changes can vary from mild to severe with associated hemorrhaging, scarring, and swelling of the macula. The loss of macular function can lead to increasing amounts of blurred central vision. New developments are helping to finally offer some treatment to effected patients.

Clay Eye Center Marc Safran MD Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology

8100 Oswego Road (Rts 57 & Soule Rd) Liverpool, NY 13090

Phone (315) 622 -1234 Fax (315) 622-0018