Symptoms
The symptoms for amblyopia vary from person-to-person. Some people might be asymptomatic (showing no signs of the condition) while others are symptomatic (showing signs of the condition). If you experience any of these symptoms do not assume it is due to amblyopia. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.
- A droopy (the inability to fully-open) eyelid that blocks the pupil
- Headaches
- Blurry vision
- Excessive squinting or closing of the eyes
- Repeatedly closing of one eye in bright sunlight
- A misalignment (crossing) of one eye, generally the eye that is less used will excessively turn toward the nose
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You may also be referred to an ophthalmologist, a doctor who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of eye disorders and vision measurement. Since amblyopia tends to occur in young children, the types of tests an ophthalmologist will perform will be determined by the patient’s age and their ability to respond to the ophthalmologist. Tests may include the following:
- Visual acuity assessment testing (VAT)—such as the Lea Symbols test that is used to assess distant vision.
- Cycloplegic refraction test—which is performed to determine how the eyeball displays and receives images produced by the lens of the eye. To perform the test, eye drops are used to dilate (widen the pupil) for a better view of the eye. To determine the direction of light the eye receives and displays, the dilating drops briefly paralyze (impair movement or make inactive) the eye muscles that control focusing.
- Retinoscopy which allows an eye specialist to determine a preverbal child’s eyeglass prescription
- Prisms to determine the amount of crossing between the two eyes if present
Improved
620 HealthChanged
293 LivesSaved
210 LivesPopular this Week
Connect with Women Like You 32 Women Care About this Condition
You're not alone. Connect with other women who are going through what you're going through, who understand and are here for you!
+ Join this Community
