Eye patches have long been a standard treatment for amblyopia, or lazy eye. But children and parents alike have a tough time following through. Even if the child is initially enthusiastic about looking like a pirate, the patch ordeal can soon get old. It did in my house. I was pleased to see a study published in the March 2002 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology that tested children with amblyopia at 47 different clinical sites. Half received patching (6 hours a day for 6 months); the other half were treated with eye drops (one drop of atropine a day for 6 months). Treatment was successful (at least 3 lines of vision improvement, or vision brought to at least 20/30) in 79% of the patched kids and 74% of those receiving drops. Atropine drops appear to be a great treatment choice for some families.
Mosquitoes are attracted to things that remind them of nectar or mammal flesh. When outdoors, wear light clothing that covers most of the body, keeping as much skin and hair covered as practical. Click here for more of Dr. Greene’s Tips For Avoiding Mosquito Bites.
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