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Amblyopia

Amblyopia , or lazy eye , is a disorder of the eye that is characterized by poor or blurry vision in an eye that is otherwise physically normal, or out of proportion to associated structural abnormalities. 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. When one eye develops good vision while the other does not, the eye with poorer vision is called amblyopic. Some causes of amblyopia include:  strabismus (crossed or turned eye), congenital cataracts , cloudy cornea , droopy eyelid , unequal vision and uncorrected nearsightedness , farsightedness or astigmatism . The visual cortex of the brain develops dramatically in babies and young children . Amblyopia is the most common cause of decreased vision in children. The condition affects approximately 2 or 3 out of every 100 children. Many amblyopics, especially those who are only mildly so, are not even aware they have the condition until tested at older ages, since the vision in their stronger eye is normal. The best time to correct amblyopia is during infancy or early childhood.

Amblyopia is a term used to describe an uncorrectable loss of vision in an eye that appears to be normal. The problem is caused by either no transmission or poor transmission of the visual image to the brain for a sustained period of dysfunction or disuse during early childhood . Usually, only one eye is affected by amblyopia, but it is possible for both eyes to be "lazy." If caught early, the problem can often be corrected and the vision preserved. The part of the brain corresponding to the visual system from the affected eye is not stimulated properly, and develops abnormally. This has been confirmed via direct brain examination.  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. However, after about age 11, it is difficult if not impossible to train the brain to use the eye normally.  Anything that interferes with a normal image on the retina during this time can lead to amblyopia - a loss of vision that continues even if no problem remains in the eye.

Causes of Amblyopia

The common Causes of Amblyopia :

• Amblyopia may be caused by an uncorrected or unequal refractive error, usually farsightedness or astigmatism, particularly when there is a large difference between the two eyes.
• Trauma to the eye at any age can cause amblyopia, as well as a strong uncorrected refractive error ( nearsightedness or farsightedness ) or strabismus.
• The most common causes of amblyopia are misalignment of the eye or strabismus.
• Sometimes amblyopia is caused when one eye is more nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic than the other eye.
• Most often it results from either a misalignment of a child's eyes, such as crossed eyes, or a difference in image quality between the two eyes (one eye focusing better than the other.)
• The eyes produce two images-one from each eye-that normally are fused or united into a single image in the brain and then integrated to produce three-dimensional images and high levels of depth perception
• Any ocular disease that blocks the visual images from reaching the back surface of the eye (retina) can cause amblyopia. 

Symptoms of Amblyopia

Some common Symptoms of Amblyopia :

• Eyes that turn in or out
• Eyes that do not appear to work together
• Eyes that turn in or out
• Squinting or tilting the head up, down, or sideways to look at something.
• Crying or complaining when one eye is covered.
• An upper eyelid that droops and covers most of the eye (ptosis).
• A symptom is a phenomenon that is experienced by an individual. Anxiety, lower back pain, and fatigue are all symptoms.
• Amblyopia is usually easily diagnosed with a complete examination of the eyes.

Treatment of Amblyopia

• Glasses are commonly prescribed to improve focusing or misalignment of the eyes.
• Surgery may be performed on the eye muscles to straighten the eyes if non-surgical means are unsuccessful.
• Regardless of the treatment required, it is of utmost importance that intervention is implemented as early as possible before the child's brain learns to permanently suppress or ignore the eye. 
• Children whose vision cannot be expected to fully recover should wear glasses with protective lenses of polycarbonate, as should all children with only one good eye caused by any disorder.
• Treatment corrects amblyopia by training the brain to use visual signals from the eye with weaker vision, building a stronger connection between the brain and the weak eye and allowing vision to develop normally in that eye.
• If your child has become amblyopic due to a strong uncorrected refractive error or a large difference between the refractive errors of both eyes, amblyopia can be treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses in the correct prescription.

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