Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye," is a condition where one eye develops poor vision, usually because it has not been used properly during childhood. It's a bit like the brain "ignores" the signals from the weaker eye, relying more on the stronger eye. This happens because of poor visual input from one eye, typically due to an issue like a misaligned eye (strabismus), a large difference in the refractive errors between the two eyes (anisometropia), or something obstructing clear vision (like a cataract).
Here’s how it develops:
- Strabismus (crossed eyes): If one eye is misaligned, the brain might suppress input from that eye to avoid double vision, leading to amblyopia in that eye.
- Anisometropia: If there's a large difference in the prescription (refractive error) between the two eyes, the brain might favor the eye with the clearer vision, neglecting the other eye.
- Deprivation: If something like a cataract or ptosis (drooping eyelid) blocks light from reaching one eye during the crucial development phase in childhood, amblyopia can develop.
Symptoms:
- Blurred vision in one eye, or the affected eye may appear to wander or turn in or out.
- Poor depth perception because the brain isn't getting input from both eyes.
- Difficulty with tasks requiring both eyes like reading or sports
- Often, there might be no noticeable symptoms, especially in the early stages, since the brain compensates by relying on the other eye.
Treatment:
Amblyopia is usually treated in childhood because the visual system is still developing, but it can sometimes be improved in older kids or even adults with intensive therapy.
Common treatments include:
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct any refractive error.
- Patching: Covering the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to work harder.
- Atropine drops: Sometimes used in place of patching to blur the vision in the stronger eye.
- Vision therapy: Specialized exercises to improve coordination and focusing abilities of the eyes.
If left untreated, amblyopia can lead to permanent vision problems in the affected eye, which is why early detection and treatment are key.
