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Amblyopia should not be dismissed as a childhood problem that will simply disappear. Early identification and treatment can help children reach their full visual potential and may have implications for their education, future work and independence | Image used for representational purposes only
| Photo Credit: ASHOK R
Amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye, occurs when the brain does not adequately process visual input from one eye. The visual pathway may appear anatomically normal, but the input reaching the brain is poorly coordinated or insufficient for normal visual development.
The condition can develop because of an uncorrected refractive error such as farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism. Misalignment of the eyes, as in squint, can affect binocular vision. Congenital cataract, corneal opacity and other conditions that obstruct visual input can also cause stimulus-deprivation amblyopia.
Amblyopia is estimated to affect about 2% to 4% of children below five years. The actual burden could be higher because many children have no obvious symptoms.
“There’s no red eye, no visible squint in most cases, no clinical sign that we can make out,” says Aparna Bhatnagar, senior consultant, ophthalmology, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram, Chennai. A child may simply learn to rely on the eye with better vision and continue with everyday activities without complaint.
