Amblyopia, the medical term for lazy eye, causes disturbances in vision. A proper diagnosis is necessary it can go on for years undiagnosed because in some cases it is easy to miss. Amblyopia can mimic other eye conditions and often occurs in just one eye, which may appear normal. These factors can lead to a delay in seeking treatment. If amblyopia is not diagnosed and treated early on it can continue into adulthood when it is more difficult to treat. To help manage this condition it is important to learn about early diagnosis and treatment options.
Identification
Amblyopia is a condition that interferes with the eye's ability to process images correctly and it tends to occur between birth and age 6. It is usually the result of another condition present at birth or developed during the early years such as crossed eyes, trauma to the eye or some type of eye blockage that interferes with vision. The Optometrists Network website states that when these situations occur the brain tends to use the eye that can see well and suppresses signals to the eye that is unable to see clearly. The eye may become "lazy" because it is no longer receiving signals and is not being used.
Types
There are various types of amblyopia. Strabismic amblyopia is diagnosed when one eye does not look straight ahead; the iris and pupil of the affected eye may turn or move towards the inner or outer corner of the eye, or the person may appear cross-eyed. Deprivation amblyopia means that cataracts or other blockage of one or both eyes is causing the visual disturbances. Refractive amblyopia occurs when one eye develops farsightedness or astigmatism worse than the other.
Warnings
If the underlying cause of amblyopia is not treated during childhood the condition may become permanent and continue into adulthood. Parents may miss the condition because a lazy eye may actually appear normal, according to the National Eye Institute. Since most eye development occurs by age 9, it is essential to have regular eye exams for children; amblyopia can be successfully treated in children when caught early. However treating adults is challenging and amblyopia is one of the common causes of vision problems in adults.
Symptoms
The National Institutes of Health state that the eye may look normal in some cases and a general eye exam may be the only way to detect this condition since it tends to affect one eye only. One of the eyes may turn in or out, the eyes may move independently of each other or the patient may have difficulty with depth perception. Blurred vision, sensitivity to bright light and headaches are other possible symptoms. In severe cases there may be a complete loss of vision in the affected eye.
Treatment
After age 10 amblyopia becomes much more difficult to treat and does not usually respond to eye drops or patching. However, in a study by the National Academy of Sciences published in 2004, the NAS claims that practicing visual exercises or tasks may help to improve this condition in adults. The goal of these tasks is to help stimulate the eye muscles and nerves in a specific way to make the brain start using the lazy eye again. While more research is needed, this type of training may produce long lasting results in older children and adults where drops and patching are no longer an option.
References
- Optometrists Network: What is Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
- National Eye Institute: Facts About Amblyopia
- National Institutes of Health: Amblyopia
- National Academy of Sciences: Improving Vision in Adult Amblyopia by Perceptual Learning
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: Amblyopia
