OPTHALMIC CONDITIONS
Amblyopia
Lazy Eye
What exactly is amblyopia?
Amblyopia, widely known as lazy eye is a peculiar neurodevelopmental visual disorder, caused by uncoordinated and improperly developed binocular vision. The main characteristic of amblyopia is the reduced visual acuity (VA), that cannot be corrected with glasses and weakened binocular vision.
The explanation of amblyopia is complex. When the visual information (images), transmitted by the eyes through the visual pathway to the human brain, differs in clarity or quality, the brain selects the higher – quality visual information, leading it to ignore the input from the other «lazy» eye, which eventually results in vision loss in that eye. Amblyopia should be diagnosed early, while the brain is still highly neuroplastic, otherwise, the progressive loss of vision becomes established, and it is unfortunately irreversible.
What are the main causes of amblyopia?
Amblyopia typically occurs in children due to:
Strabismus (misalignment of the eyes)
Anisometropia (unequal refractive error between the 2 eyes)
Combination of the 2 already mentioned eye conditions
Visual deprivation due to congenital eye conditions
What are the main symptoms of amblyopia?
The symptoms of amblyopia depend on the age. In preschool children, amblyopia is difficult to be detected, unless it is associated with other disorders (e.g., strabismus). However, a child may complain for blurred vision or low clarity of objects. In school – aged children, amblyopia is often associated with poor academic performance (reading speed is affected). The condition can even impact a child’s visual – kinetic coordination.
How is amblyopia diagnosed?
Most of the time, amblyopia is diagnosed accidentally, during a pediatric eye examination, unless a child has strabismus or congenital cataract. This is why preventive eye examination for preschool and school – aged children is extremely important. Treatment is only possible with early detection.
How can amblyopia be treated? Can it be cured if diagnosed early?
The most common therapeutic approach for amblyopia is the individualized patching technique of the «stronger» eye for «training» the other (lazy). The effectiveness of this technique is monitored through continuous follow – up appointments by an ophthalmologist. Normal cooperation from the child is fundamental, so parents must supervise and support the process.
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