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Amblyopia
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What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia means lazy eye. The brain and the eye work together to produce vision.
Light enters the eye and is changed into nerve signals that travel along the
optic nerve (sight nerve) to the brain. Amblyopia is the medical term used when
the vision in one of the eyes is reduced because the eye and the brain are not
working together properly. The eye itself looks normal, but it is not being used
normally because the brain is favouring the other eye.
How common is amblyopia?
Amblyopia is the most common cause of visual impairment in childhood. The
condition affects approximately 2 to 3% of children. Unless it is successfully
treated in early childhood, amblyopia becomes irreversible.
What causes amblyopia?
For normal development of vision clear image must be formed in the
retina during early childhood. Amblyopia may be caused by any condition that
affects normal visual development or use of the eyes that prevents a clear image
from forming on the retina of the eye. Amblyopia can be caused by squint. Squint
can cause the eyes to cross in (esotropia) or turn out (exotropia). Sometimes
amblyopia is caused when one eye is more nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic
(cylindrical power of glasses) than the other eye. Occasionally, amblyopia is
caused by other eye conditions such as cataract or corneal opacity which is
either present at birth or develops during early childhood.
What is treatment for amblyopia? |