When and why should a child visit an ophthalmologist?

Abstract:

Amblyopia is a term that signifies a various number of eye irregularities with different aetiologies. Usually it is defined as a condition of reduced visual acuity resulting from functional and structural changes in the visual cortex, occuring during the first years of life. Early treatment in the first six years of life is the only effective way of visual habilitation. When timely treated, it can be cured in more than 90% of cases. Testing the visual acuity in children of four years of age is the most reliable test for detecting amblyopia. By adopting the National Program for Early Detection of Amblyopia in 2016, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia has made screening for amblyopia mandatory for all four years-old children in Croatia.

Key words:
amblyopia; growth and development; screening; treatment; vision, ocular