Commonly referred to as ‘lazy eye’, Amblyopia is a condition that can cause reduced vision and an abnormal appearance in those afflicted. This condition involves difficulties in the way that the brain and eyes communicate, which leads to signals originating from the unaffected eye to being favoured over the other.
Amblyopia is a leading factor in childhood visions problems, with approximately 2-3 out of every 100 children affected. Catching and treating amblyopia as soon as possible is vital to remedying this condition. Without proper treatment early on, amblyopia will continue into adulthood.
Causes of Amblyopia
Amblyopia can be caused by a number of conditions that impact reasonable eye development. Uneven positioning of the eyes, known as strabismus, is just one cause of the ailment. Other causes include more common conditions occurring in just one eye, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. Cataracts have also been known to cause amblyopia, although this is far less likely to occur.
Treatment Options
As stated above, treating amblyopia as soon as possible is essential to affording the best possible outcome. For children suffering from this eye condition, treatment typically involves one of the two following options:
- Eye Patches – Eye patches worn over the healthy eye help strengthen the eye afflicted with amblyopia. Patches are usually worn for specified amounts of time throughout each day until vision in the diminished eye is improved.
- Medication – Medication can also be useful for treating amblyopia. This usually involves eye drops containing atropine, which serve to blur the vision in the healthy eye, thereby forcing the brain to favour the eye requiring treatment.
Unfortunately, treating amblyopia in adults is a much more difficult task. This has much to do with the speed in which the ocular system develops, which leaves very little recourse for those adults who did not receive treatment early on. However, researchers are still in the process of studying if there are treatments that would benefit adults afflicted with this condition.
