Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Amblyopia (am-blee-O-pee-ya), often referred to as lazy eye, is is a condition resulting in decreased vision in one or both eyes as a result of disruption during development of the visual system. Usually, there are no symptoms of amblyopia, since the brain just pays attention to the unaffected eye. When symptoms do occur, they may include noticeably favoring one eye or a tendency to bump into objects on one side. Common causes of amblyopia are:
- large differences in the refractive errors (prescription) between the two eyes, forcing the brain to pay more attention to the eye that is clearer; the vision in that eye will develop normally, but the vision in the poorer eye may not.
- misalignment of the eyes (one eye may turn inward or outward), forcing the brain to select one eye to be used as the primary eye and thus develop normally, with the vision in the other eye remaining worse.
- high degree of refractive error (prescription) in both eyes, causing neither eye to see well, and both develop poorly.
- large amount of uncorrected astigmatism, causing some of the cells in the retina to develop normally, and others to develop poorly (meridional amblyopia). Clarity for these patients would depend on the angle of the object they are viewing. Meridional amblyopia is much less common than the other types.
Early diagnosis is the best treatment for all of these conditions, and a comprehensive eye examination by a Doctor of Optometry will enable the starting of an appropriate treatment plan as early as possible. The American Optometric Association reccommends the first exam to be at 6 month of age. If any risk factors for amblyopia are present appropriate treatment can be administered (spectacles, patching of the worse eye, etc).Treatment for amblyopia may include a combination of prescription lenses (glasses, contact lenses), prisms, vision therapy and eye patching. Vision therapy teaches the two eyes how to work together, which increases the vision in the affected eye and improves a persons ability to focus and coordinate their eyes. Depending on the type and severity of the problem, active or passive therapy may be indicated. Active therapy is where a person wears a patch over the better eye, and performs demanding visual tasks and specific exercises with the lesser developed eye. Passive therapy involves patching the better eye and performing your normal daily routine with the lesser developed eye. Studies suggest active treatment has a much better prognosis for visual enhancement.Early diagnosis dramatically increases the chance for a complete recovery; amblyopia will not go away on its own. If not diagnosed until the pre-teen, teen or adult years, treatment generally takes longer and is often less effective. In some cases of amblyopia caused by eye muscle misalignment, surgery may be needed to straighten the eye before vision therapy can be attempted. Your family optometrist can give you the information you need regarding different treatment options, and referral to specialists if appropriate.
 |
