Pronounced: Am-blee-o-pee-a
Amblyopia is a condition that occurs when there is a reduction of vision in one eye. Amblyopia, which is often called “lazy eye,” is most common in infants and children, but it can also occur in adults. Amblyopia is not contagious.
There are two common types of amblyopia:
If you suspect that you or your child has this condition, contact the doctor. The sooner amblyopia is treated, the more favorable the outcome.
Amblyopia is caused when the brain prefers (favors) one eye to the other. The brain’s preference (liking) for one eye over the other can weaken and reduce vision in the eye that is less used.
There are no apparent genetic or environmental factors that can be attributed to causing amblyopia.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors increase your chances of developing amblyopia. If you have any of these risk factors, tell your doctor:
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.
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:
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. First, correction of any visual obstructions, such as cataracts, needs to be accomplished. In addition, the doctor will treat any significant visual abnormalities or defects, such as excessive nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism with glasses or contact lenses. Only then a child is encouraged to use the amblyopic eye.
Treatment options include the following:
Atropine drops or ointment is placed in the non-amblyopic eye (the eye that is favored by the brain or the sound eye). This causes the sound eye to become unfocused and forces the patient to use the lazy eye.
One type of treatment includes placing a patch over the non-amblyopic eye (the sound eye), which forces the patient to use the lazy eye.
Bangerter foils are another option. The foils, which are made of thin vinyl, are placed over the eye glass lens, covering the non-amblyopic eye. Just like with the patch, this forces the weaker eye to become stronger because you will not be able to see well with the foiled lens.
To reduce the chances of amblyopia going undetected (unidentified), children under the age of six should have a comprehensive eye exam by their third birthday. There are no known preventive measures that will reduce your chances of getting amblyopia. However, routinely getting a comprehensive vision exam, early detection, and an immediate treatment plan for amblyopia will lead to more favorable outcomes.
RESOURCES:
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
http://www.aapos.org
National Eye Institute (NEI)
http://www.nei.nih.gov
Prevent Blindness America
http://www.preventblindness.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
http://www.eyesite.ca
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind
http://www.cnib.ca
References:
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Campos, EC, Schiavi, C, Benedetti, P, et al. Effect of citicoline on visual acuity in amblyopia: preliminary results. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol .1995; 233:307.
Fleck BW. Amblyopia therapy. Br J Ophthalmol . 2003; 87(3):255-6.
Flynn JT, Schiffman J, Feuer W, et al. The therapy of amblyopia: an analysis of the results of amblyopia therapy utilizing the pooled data of published studies. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc . 1998;96: 431-50; discussion 450-3.
Holmes JM, Beck RW, Kraker RT, et al. Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group. Impact of patching and atropine treatment on the child and family in the amblyopia treatment study. Arch Ophthalmol . 2003;121(11):1625-32.
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Western Ophthalmics. Bangerter occlusion foils. Western Ophthalmics website. Available at: http://www.west-op.com/occlusionfoil.html. Accessed May 28, 2010.
5/28/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group Writing Committee, Rutstein RP, Quinn GE, et al. A randomized trial comparing Bangerter filters and patching for the treatment of moderate amblyopia in children. Ophthalmology. 2010;117(5):998-1004.
Last reviewed September 2009 by Christopher Cheyer, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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