What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia is also known as “lazy eye” and is an eye disorder where the eye does not develop clear vision, despite usually being a healthy eye.
The most common amblyopia is when only one eye is affected due to being restricted from best vision compared to the other eye. For example, one eye has a high prescription, or turns, or has a cataract or drooping eyelid that covers it.
It is possible to have amblyopia in both eyes in cases of childhood cataracts or high prescriptions in both eyes.
Types of Amblyopia
Refractive Amblyopia is due to one or both eyes having either a large prescription that prevents the eye from developing clear vision or a prescription that is too different from the other eye and causes the brain to suppress the input from the eye with the higher prescription. Sometimes glasses are all that is needed depending on the age of diagnosis.
Strabismic Amblyopia is due to one eye being constantly turned in and out. This causes double vision so the brain will suppress the image of the turned eye. Because of this only the eye that is pointed straight will develop clear vision. Sometimes surgery is necessary in these cases, but not always.
Deprivation Amblyopia occurs when something is blocking the vision to one or both eyes. For example: a cataract or droopy eyelid. It is best to surgically correct the culprit before treating the amblyopia that resulted.
