Amblyopia

Amblyopia arises when the brain and one eye do not communicate properly, causing the brain to favor the other eye. This lack of coordination can result from various underlying issues, leading to reduced vision in the affected eye. Amblyopia is a developmental problem in the brain, not an issue with the eye itself. The condition usually affects one eye but can sometimes impact both.

Causes of Amblyopia

Several factors can cause or contribute to the development of amblyopia:

• Strabismic Amblyopia:

  • This type occurs when there is a misalignment of the eyes, known as strabismus. The brain receives two different images and may ignore the one from the misaligned eye, leading to amblyopia.

• Refractive Amblyopia:

  • Caused by unequal refractive errors in both eyes, such as one eye being more nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic than the other. The brain relies on the eye with the clearer image, neglecting the other, leading to amblyopia.

• Deprivation Amblyopia:

  • Results from something obstructing vision in one eye, such as a cataract or droopy eyelid. The brain receives limited visual information from the affected eye, leading to underdevelopment.

Symptoms of Amblyopia

Amblyopia often develops in infancy or early childhood, and symptoms may not always be obvious. Parents and caregivers should watch for signs such as:

• Eye Misalignment: One eye may appear to drift inwards, outwards, upwards, or downwards.
• Squinting or Closing One Eye: A child may squint or close one eye when looking at something.
• Poor Depth Perception: Difficulty in perceiving depth, leading to clumsiness or poor coordination.
• Preference for One Eye: The child may prefer one eye over the other, or cover one eye when focusing on an object.
• Blurry Vision: Complaints of blurry vision or double vision in one eye.