amblyopia

Introduction

Suppression of central vision.

Etiology

• impaired vision during development
• poor image formation due to:
  • corneal scar
  • cataracts
  • droopy eyelid

Epidemiology

• most common form of visual impairment in children

Pathology

• unequal refractive error of at least 2 diopters
• in order to avoid confusion one of the two images is suppressed

Clinical manifestations

• eyes pointing in different directions

Management

• developmental amblyopia
  • most can be reversed if treated before 6 years of age
  • standard screening at 37 months of age
  • screening at 8, 12, 18, 25, 31 & 37 months may lead to earlier detection & improved outcomes
• an eye patch is placed over the good eye for weeks to months to force use of the lazy eye
• atropine sulfate 1% 1 drop QD in good eye
  • temporarily blurs vision of good eye, forcing the lazy eye to be used
  • works as well as patch
  • wear sunglasses & a hat while outdoors {dilates pupil}

Comparative biology

• transplantation of GABAergic neurons into the visual cortex of adult amblyopic mice restores develpmental plasticity of visual cortex

More general terms

• sign/symptom

Patient information

amblyopia patient information