Amblyopia Fact Sheet

Amblyopia Fact Sheet By Evelle Jacks

Description Ambloypia occurs when the vision in one eye is reduced and the brain ignores the signals from the eye with diminished vision. If left untreated it could result in functional blindness of the affected eye.

Parts of Visual System Affected Muscles that control the simultaneous movement of eye and optic nerve are affected because of lack of use.

Effects on the Condition of the Visual System If untreated may become functionally blind in affected eye.

Tretments Early treatment offers the best results. Patching of the good eye to make the brain recognize the information coming in from the affected eye. If patient will not tolerate a patch some doctors may prescribe drops for the good eye to distort vision and make the brain use the affected eye. Glasses or contacts to correct the vision in the affected eye and or vision therapy may be recommended to increase use of affected eye.

When does this occur? This condition may be present at birth or in early childhood. It may also occur after an injury to the eye.

Anticipated Functional Implications Poor depth perception and spatial acuity and functional blindness in the affected eye if left untreated.

1 References

Cassin, Barbara. (Ed.). (2006). In Dictionary or Eye Terminlolgy (5th ed., Gainesville: Triad Publishing Company.

Cooper, Jeffery and Cooper, Rachel(2009). Optometrists network. Retrieved June 6,2009, from All About Amblyopia Web Site: http://wwwstrabosis.org/amblyopia_lazy_eyehtml#whatis

Lee, Judith and Bailey, Gretchyn (2007, May). All about vision. Retrieved June 6, 2009, from Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) Web site: http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amblyopia.htm

(2005). The vision learning center. Retrieved June 6, 2009, from Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) Web site: http://www.preventblindness.org/children/amblyopiaFAQ.html

(2009, May). National eye institute. Retrieved June 6, 2009, from Facts About Amblyopia Web site: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/amblyopia/amblyopia_guide.asp