Have a question? Feel free to browse our Frequently Asked Questions listed below. If you don’t see the information you need, please contact us.
Index
General Information
What is a VEP Pediatric Vision Test?
Can I be with my child during the test?
How should I prepare my child?
How is the test done?
What else do I need to know?
What can I expect after the test?
Questions?
VEP and EEG Technology
What is Visual Evoked Potential (VEP)?
What is Electroencephalograph (EEG)?
What is the relationship between VEP & EEG technology?
Amblyopia
What is amblyopia?
What causes amblyopia?
Can anything be done to treat amblyopia and prevent vision loss?
When should treatment for amblyopia begin?
What treatments are available?
What treatment follows the correction of the underlying cause?
What happens if amblyopia goes untreated?
How many people have amblyopia?
General Information
What is a VEP Pediatric Vision Test?
It is a painless, safe, non-invasive test to check the complete visual system of your child including the nerve pathway between the eyes and the brain. It is much more than a common vision test.
Can I be with my child during the test?
You are welcome to stay in the room during the test. We do discourage having siblings in the room. The test will take between 5 and 10 minutes.
How should I prepare my child for the test?
All medications should be taken as usual unless otherwise directed by the doctor. Hair should be clean, dry, and free of any gels, sprays, or oils.
It is important that your child feel relaxed and comfortable so the test results are accurate. For younger children it may be helpful to bring a favorite item such as a blanket, pacifier, or toy that will make them feel more comfortable.
How is the test done?
The technologist will attach three small sensory pads to the child’s head using a washable gel material. Your child will be seated in front of a screen and asked to stare at the center. The screen has animal pictures and a black and white pattern that quickly reverses. One eye is covered while the other eye is tested. A computer records the child’s response.
What else do I need to know?
Your child must sit still during the test. Relaxation is an important part of the test.
What can I expect after the test?
After the test the technologist will remove the sensory pads and use a small amount of water to remove any gel residue. The test results will be given to your doctor.
Questions?
These FAQ’s are not specific to your child but provides general inform. For questions about your child’s test please ask your child’s doctor.
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VEP & EEG Technology
What is Visual Evoked Potential (VEP)?
Visual Evoked Potential is a non-invasive testing method that provides objective information about a child’s vision system. VEP provides a means to measure the complete visual pathway, from the lens to the visual cortex, to detect mechanical or neural abnormalities related to vision. These problems are often subtle and difficult to detect.
The VEP is an electrical signal generated in response to a known visual stimulus. The potential is an electrical response to a stimulus. The Enfant™ testing device uses visual stimuli in a specific pattern to evoke the electrical response, or potential, in the brain. It then measures the potential from the visual pathway of each eye, compares the two sets of data, and identifies a problem if one exists.
What is Electroencephalograph (EEG)?
The Electroencephalograph (EEG) is a neurological test which measures electrical activity of the brain. To do an EEG a patient has sensory pads applied to various locations on the head. A test device records the electrical signals from these sensory pads and plots the data for evaluation. The EEG can be tailored to evaluate specific functions of the brain.
What is the relationship between VEP and EEG technology?
The VEP is a tailored EEG Test. The VEP is used to test the functionality of the brain’s vision system from the eye to the visual cortex. With the VEP, this external stimulus is a series of patterns displayed on a computer monitor.
The Enfant™ Pediatric VEP Vision Testing System uses VEP technology with size varying objects held at a constant light level as the stimulus. The Enfant™ requires only three sensory pads to acquire the data required to assess the patient’s vision function.
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Amblyopia
What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia means "without sight”. It is reduced vision in an eye that has not received adequate use during early childhood.
What causes amblyopia?
Amblyopia has many causes, among them a "lazy" eye. Amblyopia most often results from this "lazy" or misalignment of a child's eyes. A "lazy" eye is seen by an observer as crossed eyes, or divergent eyes. Amblyopia also results from a difference in image quality between the two eyes (one eye focusing better than the other). In both cases (misalignment and weaker focusing) one eye becomes stronger than the other. If this condition persists, the weaker eye may become useless.
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Can anything be done to treat amblyopia and prevent vision loss?
With early diagnosis and treatment, the vision in the "lazy eye" may be restored.
When should treatment for amblyopia begin?
The earlier the treatment, the better the opportunity to reverse the vision loss.
What treatments are available?
Before treating amblyopia, it may be necessary to first treat the underlying cause. Glasses are commonly prescribed to improve focusing or misalignment of the eyes. In extreme cases surgery may be required to allow both eyes to work together.
What treatment follows the correction of the underlying cause?
The correction may be followed by:
Patching or covering one eye may be required for a period of time ranging from a few weeks to as long as a year. The better-seeing eye is patched, forcing the "lazy" eye to work, thereby strengthening its vision.
Medication, in the form of eye drops or ointment, may be used to blur the vision of the good eye in order to force the weaker one to work.
What happens if amblyopia goes untreated?
If not treated early enough, an amblyopic eye may never develop good vision and may become functionally blind.
How many people have amblyopia?
It is estimated that four to five percent of the population suffers from this form of visual impairment.
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