 Amblyopia or Lazy eye is where the vision in one or
both eyes is reduced even with spectacles. The eye shows
no sign of disease or other abnormality. Ambylopia occurs
when one eye does not receive a clear image compared
to the other in childhood.
There are 4 main causes of
Amblyopia
- Strabismic – The
commonest form, one eye turns in or out. The brain
ignores this eye to avoid double vision. Over a
short period the turned eye becomes lazy or amblyopic
- Anisometropic – Here
the eyes have unequal refractive errors, long or
short sight. The brain ignores the eye with the
most blurred image causing it to become lazy
- Ametropic – Vision
in both eyes is reduced due to large refractive
errors equally affecting both eyes being uncorrected
by spectacles or contact lenses. Neither eye receives
a clear image and so are not able to develop properly.
- Deprivation – This
is the rarest form. It is caused by something obscuring
the vision e.g. a droopy eye lid (ptosis) or a
cataract being present from birth.
Unless there is a turn in the eye or an obvious obstruction
of the vision Amblyopia often goes undetected until the
eyes are examined by an Optician. Amblyopia is only treatable
in childhood and earlier detection and treatment gives
better outcomes.
Treatment varies depending on the cause, it may involve
spectacles, occlusion of the Good eye to encourage the
lazy eye to work. Surgery may be required to straighten
the eye in squint or remove the obstruction to vision
in cataract.
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