Let’s be honest, most of us don’t really think about eye health until something’s clearly wrong. But thanks to TikTok creator @nuridamocha, we just got a super helpful reminder that our kids’ eye deserves some serious attention too.
In her videos, Nurida shares her journey after learning that her child had a lazy eye, or in medical terms amblyopia. And no, it’s not just an eye that looks “lazy” or turns to the side. It’s way more than that.
So… what exactly is lazy eye?
Lazy eye happens when one eye doesn’t develop proper vision like the other. Basically, the brain starts to ignore the weaker eye because it’s not sending clear signals. This condition usually develops in early childhood and if it’s not treated on time, it can lead to long-term vision loss.
What causes it?
Amblyopia can be caused by a few things:
- Strabismus – when one eye turns in/out/up/down (aka ‘mata juling’)
- Refractive errors – one eye sees much worse than the other (but the kid may not even notice!)
- Something blocking vision – like a droopy eyelid or pediatric cataract
How do you know if your kid has it?
Here’s the tricky part – most kids don’t complain because they’ve gotten used to seeing the world that way. But here are some signs parents can watch out for:
- One eye tends to wander
- Bumps into things or seems clumsy
- Tilts their head, squints or covers one eye
- Struggles with depth perception
- Trouble reading or staying focused on screens
Nurida mentioned that she brought her child to Pusat Pakar Mata OP for a proper check-up and that’s really the best move. Let the eye experts do their thing.
The CDC recommends that all children get a full vision screening at least once between ages 3–5 to catch issues like amblyopia early.
Can it be treated?
Yes and the earlier, the better! Some common treatments include:
- Prescription glasses – to help balance vision
- Patching the stronger eye – to force the weaker one to do the work
- Eye drops – to blur the stronger eye and encourage use of the weaker one
- Vision therapy – like exercises or games to retrain the eyes and brain
What about screen time & glasses?
In her second video, Nurida shared that her kid now wears anti-blue light glasses, especially during screen time. These don’t treat lazy eye, but they can help reduce eye strain a nice bonus for today’s tech-heavy lifestyle. While research is still ongoing, some parents find it helpful as part of a healthy screen routine.
Final thoughts
Just like we care about what our kids eat, how much they sleep, or whether they’re glued to screens, eye health deserves a spot in that convo too. One simple eye check can make all the difference especially for conditions like lazy eye, which are treatable if caught early.
So parents, aunties, uncles, or even you future-moms scrolling TikTok, take note. Shoutout to creators like @nuridamocha who remind us of these things in the most relatable way possible.
Sources: TikTok/nuridamocha, Mayo Clinic, American Optometric Association, CDC, and National Eye Institute