Lazy eye could improve with acupuncture

by Aimee Keenan-Greene 

Acupuncture could potentially become an alternative treatment for lazy eye, according to a new study in the Archives of Ophthalmology.  

Amblyopia, known commonly as lazyeye, is the most common cause of vision problems in children, according to Google Health.  It occurs when the brain favors one eye and a person's vision ability does not develop normally. For kids, the brain stops growing between the ages of 5 and 10 and the condition becomes permanent.  

In Rhode Island, all children entering kindergarten are required by state law to have a vision screening before the start of the school year, according to the Department of Health.  

The usual treatment involves patching the normal eye to force the use of the lazy eye. Wearing patches can be especially difficult for children. That's why researchers from China set out to compare the effectiveness of the 2-hour daily patching with the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating lazy eye in 7 to 12 year olds who had worn optimal spectacles for at least 16 weeks.  

Scientists say:   

In the single-center randomized controlled trial, 88 eligible children with an amblyopic eye who had a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) of 0.3 to 0.8 logMAR at baseline were randomly assigned to receive 2 hours of patching of the sound eye daily or 5 sessions of acupuncture weekly. All participants in our study received constant optical correction, plus 1 hour of near-vision activities daily, and were followed up at weeks 5, 10, 15, and 25. The main outcome measure was BSCVA in the amblyopic eye at 15 weeks.   

Doctors concluded acupuncture produced equivalent treatment effect for lazy eye, compared with patching, and was statistically superior.   

Children who receive treatment for lazy eye before age 5 usually have near complete recovery of normal vision. Delaying treatment can result in permanent vision problems. After age 10, only a partial recovery of vision can be expected.

Amblyopia is usually easily diagnosed with a complete examination of the eyes. Special tests are usually not required, according to LazyEye.org.  Early recognition and treatment can help prevent permanent vision loss. All children should have a complete eye examination at least once between ages 3 and 5.  

The American Optometric Association (AOA) encourages parents to include a trip to the optometrist in the list of well-baby check-ups. Assessments at 6 to 12 months can determine healthy development of vision. Go to InfantSee.org.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island says, lazy eye tends to run in families. Lazy eye may be more likely among children who were born prematurely or those who have developmental delays as they get older. 

WebMD says symptoms include, eyes that turn in or out, eyes that do not appear to work together, and an inability to judge depth correctly.