XN000022-1983-11-07 — Page 5

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983

CHECK ON CHILD WITH A SQUINT, PARENTS TOLD

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A CHILD WITH A SQUINT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AN EYE CLINIC FOR EXAMINATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

IF FACT, ANY +ABNORMALITY OF EYE POSTURE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF A DOCTOR, HE ADDED.

THE REASON IS BECAUSE HE MAY BE SUFFERING FROM AMBLYOPIA, KNOWN ALSO AS +LAZY EYE+.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT WHEN PART OF THE CHILD'S BRAIN WHICH CONTROLS VISION FAILS TO RECEIVE NORMAL VISUAL SIGNALS, HIS EYESIGHT WILL BEGIN TO DETER FORATE AND FINALLY CEASE TO DEVELOP.

AMBLYOPIA OCCURS DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE. HONG KONG, IT AFFLICTS ABOUT SIX PER CENT OF CHILDREN.

IN

+ IF THE DISEASE IS NOT DETECTED BEFORE THE AGE OF SEVEN, IT WILL CAUSE PERMANENT FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE EYE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

A CHILD WITH GOOD SIGHT IN ONE EYE WILL USUALLY NOT BE AWARE OF THE CONDITION, HE SAID.

AS FOR TREATMENT, THREE OVERSEAS-TRAINED EXPERTS ARE AMONG STAFF MANNING AN ORTHOPTIC UNIT SET UP IN 1981 IN THE EYE CLINIC AT THE YAU MA TEI JOCKEY CLUB POLYCLINIC, HE SAID.

TWO SETS OF MODERN EQUIPMENT TO TEST THE BINOCULAR VISION OF PATIENTS WITH THE LAZY EYE+ PROBLEM HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE UNIT.

SINCE THEN, SOME 1 200 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO IN THE CLINIC.

THE USUAL TREATMENT IS TO COVER THE GOOD EYE FOR VARYING PERIODS, THUS FORCING THE CHILD TO USE THE AFFECTED EYE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM LAZY EYE+ CAN BE TAKEN TO THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, OUT- PATIENT DEPARTMENTS OF HOSPITALS, AND CLINICS. THE CHILDREN CAN ALSO BE REFERRED THROUGH THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME TO THE ORTHOPTIC UNIT FOR TREATMENT.

AS A FINAL WORD, THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED PARENTS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO UNDERGO REGULAR EYE TESTS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF PROBLEMS.

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