What's Up Doc 10-15-09

What is amblyopia and how is it treated?
Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. It is sometimes called "lazy eye." This condition is relatively common, affecting approximately two or three out of every 100 people. Because there are several causes of amblyopia, the treatment must match the problem. Glasses or contact lenses fix some problems. Surgery may be needed for cataracts, droopy eyelids or crossed eyes. After the cause is found, the child will need to use the weaker eye most of the time, so it will get stronger. To make the child use the weaker eye, a patch can be put over the stronger eye. Sometimes, eye drops or special glasses are used to blur the vision in the stronger eye. This makes the weaker eye become stronger. Patches may be used all day or part of the day, depending on the child's age and vision. The treatment usually lasts until vision is normal, or until vision stops getting better. For most children, this takes several weeks. A few children need to use eye patches until they are 8 to 10 years old. The best time to correct amblyopia is during infancy or early childhood. That’s why eye exams for children are so important.
Virgil Murray, MD, ophthalmologist with The Eye Clinic

How much damage does smoking do to your baby if you have just one cigarette a day or every other day?
It would be difficult to give you a definitive answer, but smoking during pregnancy is something we strongly advise against. Most of the research on smoking and pregnancy has shown that smoking more than half a pack a day increases the risk of miscarriage and of the baby's being born prematurely and/or with a low birth weight. Cigarette smoking puts carbon monoxide into your blood, while the baby needs oxygen. The nicotine also causes spasms of the blood vessels that feed the baby oxygen and nutrients, decreasing flow to the child. Smoking is a difficult addiction to break. Once you are off cigarettes and don't have them in the house, it will be easier to quit and to stay off of them after the baby is born.
G. Vincent Bailey, MD, ob/gyn specialist on the medical staff of Jennings American Legion Hospital

My daughter has had her braces for about three months and I think her teeth actually look worse at this point than when they started. Is this normal?
Yes, during the course of orthodontic treatment, things do sometimes appear worse before they look better. The teeth often move in different directions as the teeth are straightening out. You may see a space between your two front teeth that was never there before or teeth that seemed perfectly straight before the braces were placed may not seem as straight. Be patient and things will start to improve. That space will close and those teeth will line up as treatment continues.
Craig Crawford, DDS, orthodontist, Crawford Orthodontics

Can a polyp on the vocal chords be cancerous?
The vocal cords are a paired structure in the throat that moves when we breathe or speak. Sometimes they can be injured or develop a disease. Polyps are one such condition. Polyps are caused by swelling of the mucosa (lining tissue) of the vocal cords. They collect excessive fluid and swell. Sometimes if the swelling persists or the injury is repetitive, the polyps can harden with scar tissue (called fibrosis). The polyps are benign (not cancerous) lesions of the vocal cords. However, it is possible to have cancer of the vocal cords along with polyps. While this is unusual, it is one reason that a person with persistent hoarseness needs to have a thorough laryngeal exam. An otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) can usually make that assessment during a scheduled office visit.
Henry Goolsby, III, MD, Oncologist with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic