What Do You Tell Parents Who Ask Why Their Preschooler Can’t See Out of One Eye?

The diagnosis has been made and confirmed: amblyopia. But what exactly does it mean to the parent and child who are most likely hearing it for the first time? Essentially nothing until the time is taken by us, ophthalmic medical personnel, to adequately explain the condition, the treatment options available, the goals for treatment, and the prognosis. How does one educate parents and children alike about amblyopia? How does one communicate in such a way as to facilitate and promote a favorable response to treatment? One hundred families of children with amyblopia, as well as a large consortium of orthoptists, were surveyed regarding the diagnosis and methods employed to communicate more efficiently and effectively. The diagnosis, it turns out, is only the beginning. Our responsibility to the parents and child does not simply end there: with good interpersonal skills and open communication, a team is established, and the task at hand of obtaining equal acuities should prove to be less daunting. From the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Presented as part of a Symposium at the Joint Meeting of the American Orthoptic Council, the American Association of Certified Orthoptists and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 11,