Amblyopia is the medical term for poor vision in one or both the eyes. When one eye develops good vision while the other does not; the eye with poor vision is called "Amblyopic". It is generally caused by the lack of use of one eye when the brain "favors" one eye over the other and "turns off" the eye with poor vision. In essence, amblyopia is a disorder of the eye's connection to brain cells that control the vision in one eye, not a problem with the eye itself.

What causes amblyopia?

Amblyopia is caused by any condition that affects normal use of the eyes and visual development. The major causes of amblyopia are strabismus and poor focusing (refractive error). Amblyopia occurs most commonly with misaligned eyes such as crossing of the eyes. The crossed eye is "turned off" by the brain and becomes amblyopic. An eye disease such as cataract may lead to amblyopia in a child (cataracts in adults do not cause amblyopia). In fact any factor that prevents a clear image from being focused inside the eye can lead to the development of amblyopia in a child. Children may also inherit conditions from parents that can cause amblyopia.

How is amblyopia treated?

In most cases amblyopia is treatable. However the success of treatment is dependent upon the initial level of vision, the amount of time for which the vision has been poor and the age of the patient. To treat amblyopia, the patient must be forced to use the weaker eye. First, glasses are prescribed to correct any existing focusing problem. Then, patching or covering the good eye, often for weeks or months, is required to make the brain use the weaker eye. Once the vision has improved in the weaker eye, part-time patching may be required over a period of years to maintain good vision. Sometimes amblyopia is treated by blurring the vision in the "good" eye with special eye drops to force the child to use the amblyopic eye. Surgery is sometimes needed to correct amblyopia if the eyes are crossed. By adjusting the tension of the outer muscles on one or both eyes, the eyes can be straightened. Your eye care provider can provide a comprehensive assessment of your amblyopia and the treatment most suitable for your condition.

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