Friday, December 7, 2007

3.3.1 Who's being lazy?

Amblyopia is commonly known as the lazy eye. Except for congenital opacities, a lazy eye is absolutely normal in structure, both inside and out, yet its vision is poor. The other eye, on the other hand, has good vision. To a child, the visual world would appear normal. And to others, nothing unusual about this child's eyes, either. For this reason, the discovery of amblyopia is almost all by accident, first noticed by an observant parent or a pediatrician.

There are three types of amblyopia:

Deprivational: this happens when there are cataracts or corneal opacities blocking the path of light into the eye. Naturally the opacities must be removed first.

Refractive: this type occurs due to a large difference between the refractive errors of the two eyes. For example, if one eye is normal or near-sighted and the other is very far-sighted, then the latter will remain unused to avoid diplopia - this then results in amblyopia. There is a subtype due to high astigmatism. It usually involves both eyes. And because part of the retina is never used fully, that part will become amblyopic and the vision will not achieve 20/20 even with the best correction.

Strabismic: In this type, the eye positions are not aligned or coordinated, so the less dominating eye becomes disused or suppressed on order of the brain. This eye then becomes amblyopic.

A “lazy” eye therefore is not an eye that does not want to contribute but rather it is prevented from doing so.

The treatment of amblyopia is really to force the amblyopic eye to see, by means of patching of the good eye, or by using atropine eyedrops to reduce the usage of the good eye. The earlier the treatment starts, the better the outcome.

The major problem with patching is the children’s resistance often from discomfort or teasing from their peers. Compliance using the atropine drops (once a day) is certainly easier and in fact the results are as good as that with eye patching. This was supported by a recent clinical study comparing these two methods: The improvement was 3.7 lines (on the visual acuity chart) in the patching group and 3.6 lines in the atropine group. And about half of each group can achieve a visual acuity of 20/25 or better.

So these are the two choices, both equally effective. Amblyopia in fact should not remain untreated. Unfortunately, we still see these cases from time to time.

2 comments:

Lazy Eye Treatment said...

Thank you for your insightful exploration of lazy eye treatment methods. Your comprehensive discussion on therapeutic approaches and their effectiveness offers valuable guidance. Understanding the significance of early intervention and various treatment options illuminates pathways to improve vision in individuals with a lazy eye. Your article not only educates but also inspires hope for better vision outcomes. By sharing these insights, you contribute significantly to raising awareness and fostering proactive steps toward enhancing visual acuity in those affected by this condition.

Blurred Vision After Cataract Surgery said...

Thank you for addressing the concern of blurred vision post-cataract surgery. Your informative article delves into this common issue, offering insights into its potential causes and remedies. Understanding why blurred vision occurs and the steps to manage it provides reassurance to those experiencing this post-operative effect. Your guidance on seeking professional advice and potential solutions empowers individuals to address and potentially alleviate blurred vision, ensuring a smoother recovery process. Your efforts in elucidating this topic contribute significantly to post-operative clarity and patient confidence.