| Eye coordination is
the ability of both eyes to work together as a team. Each of your
eyes sees a slightly different image and your brain, by a process
called fusion, blends these two images into one three-dimensional
picture. Good eye coordination keeps the eyes in proper alignment.
Eye coordination is a skill that must be developed. Poor eye
coordination results from a lack of adequate vision development or
improperly developed eye muscle control. Although rare, an injury or
disease can cause poor eye coordination.
Because the images seen by each eye must be virtually the same, a
person usually compensates for poor eye muscle control by
subconsciously exerting extra effort to maintain proper alignment of
the eyes. In more severe cases, the muscles cannot adjust the eyes
so that the same image is seen and double vision occurs. Since the
brain will try to avoid seeing double, it eventually learns to
ignore the image sent by one eye. This can result in amblyopia, a
serious vision condition commonly known as lazy eye.
Some signs and symptoms that may indicate poor eye coordination
include double vision, headaches, eye and body fatigue,
irritability, dizziness and difficulty in reading and concentrating.
Children may also display characteristics that may indicate poor eye
coordination including covering one eye, skipping lines or losing
their place while reading, poor sports performance, avoiding tasks
that require close work and tiring easily.
Since poor eye coordination can be difficult to detect, periodic
optometric examinations, beginning at age six months and again at
age three years are recommended. A comprehensive examination by a
doctor of optometry can determine the extent, if any, of poor eye
coordination. Poor eye coordination is often successfully treated
with eyeglasses and/or vision therapy. The success rate for
achieving proper eye coordination is quite high. Sometimes, eye
coordination will improve when other vision conditions like
nearsightedness or farsightedness are corrected. In some cases,
surgery may be necessary.
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