Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour child is most likely to be diagnosed with lazy eye during a comprehensive vision exam. Every child should have a complete eye exam between ages 3 and 5. If your child is in this age range or has any symptoms of eye or vision problems, make an appointment with your doctor. You may be referred to an ophthalmologist.
Before the appointment, write down your child's medical history and make a list of your questions. Your time with the doctor is limited and appointments can go fast, so it helps to be prepared.
Plan to tell the doctor about:
- Any other medical issues, including other eye problems, your child has had
- All medications, vitamins and supplements your child is taking
- Any allergies to medications, food or other substances your child may have
- Any family history of eye problems, such as lazy eye, cataracts or glaucoma
Your questions for the doctor about lazy eye might include:
- Does my child have lazy eye?
- Other than lazy eye, is there any other possible diagnosis?
- If this is lazy eye, what is the likely cause?
- Is lazy eye associated with any other health conditions?
- What treatment options are most likely to help my child?
- How much improvement can we expect with treatment?
- Is my child at risk of complications from this condition?
- Is my child at risk of a recurrence of this condition?
- What treatment options are available if there is a recurrence?
- How often should my child be seen for follow-up visits?
- When would you recommend seeing another specialist, such as a pediatric ophthalmologist?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
References
- Facts about amblyopia. The National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/amblyopia/amblyopia_guide.asp. Accessed Sept. 27, 2010.
- Coats DK. Overview of amblyopia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 27, 2010.
- Noshi NR, et al. Amblyopia. American Family Physician. 2007;75:361.
- Screening for visual impairment in children younger than age 5 years. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/3rduspstf/visionscr/vischrs.htm. Accessed Sept. 27, 2010.
- Koby M. Amblyopia. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1058443637&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00010-X--sc0130&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00010-X--sc0130&uniqId=219913719-4. Accessed Sept. 27, 2010.
- Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 29, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on