Amblyopia Flashcards
Amblyopia
Sensorimotor adaptations for abnormal BV
Decrease of VA in one or both eyes caused by abnormal binocular interaction or form deprivation
Amblyopia (aka functional amblyopia, lazy eye)
Amblyopia occurs when
The visua lapthway failed to develop properly due to inadequate stimulation
Pathway development was halted during visual immaturity
Imropvement of amblyopia with corrective lenses
Cannot be improved
Pathology and amblyopia
Absent
If amblyopia not treated
Persists throughout life
Most common cause of monocular visual improvement in children and middle aged adutls
Amblyopia
Decrease of VA is caused by ___ in amblyopia
From deprivation and/or abnormal binocular interaction
In addition to the loss of VA, amblyopia can result in
- dysfunction of accommodation
- poor eye alignment
- reduced contrast sensitivity
- dysfunction in spatial judgements
- poor resolution
- poor tracking
- poor prognosis with the loss of the fellow eye
Prevalence of amblyopia
- about 2% in Caucasian and AA preschool children (Baltimore PED eye study)
- 2% of Hispanic and AA preschool children (multi ethnic PED eye disease)
- consistent with established estimates of 2-4% in the US population
Cause or etiology of amblyopia
None that can be treated or reversed. None can be detected by physical examination of the eye
-implying that no diseases are seen
There is also poorer prognosis if there is loss to the sound eye
Laterality of amblyopia
Unilateral or bilateral
Severity of amblyopia
Can be mild or severe VA loss
When to be suspicious of amblyopia
If there is a loss of at least two lines of VA that is not caused by a-ethology or correctable by ordinary refractive correction
When should amblyopia be detected
Before the end of the critical period (8-10 years)
Critical period
During this critical period, the visual system is still developing; thereby, stimulation helps with the development of the visual system
-treatment will be better during this period
Abnormal input or a lack of input results in a blurred image
-this will persist if not treated
Abnormal input after normal critical period
Results in blur but not a halt to the sensory development of the VA
How could critical period be affected differently
By amblyogenic factors such as anisometropia vs isometropia
Treating refractive errors in young kids
There is a need for emmetropiation, where treating early could upset the natural change needed in these infants
But treating too late could also lead to amblyopia
Risk factors of amblyopia
Prematurity Low birth wt ROP Cerebral palsy Mental retardation Genetic syndromes Family Hx Maternal smoking, alcohol, and/or drugs
Causes of refractive amblyopia
Blur
Cause of deprivation amblyopia
Degraded image or occlusion
Cause of strabismic amblyopia
Different targets (no bifoveal fixation)
Examples of refractive blur
Anisometropia
Isoametropia
Meridonial
Examples of deprivation amblyopia
Cataract Ptosis Corneal opacity Posterior segment hemorrhage Prolonged penalization/occlusion
Strabismic amblyopia examples
Esotropia
Exo tropia
Hypertropia
Greater risk if constant
Isomatropic amblyopia
Caused by very high refractive error in both eyes
So high that a clear retinal image cannot be obtained
This results in a bialteral decreases in VA
High hyperopia can also cause an
Esotropia, but not always
Example is a 4 yo and hasn’t started school ye. No motivation to learn to accomodation
We have to count on the parents vigilance at this point
Anisometropia amblyopia
- a child has normal refractive error with good VA in one eye and a significant refractive error and reduced VA in the other eye
- binocualr integration is disrupted
- commons comments from children: “my left eye never sees well”, “that’s my bad eye”
Parents detecting anisometropia amblyopia
Harder because the child relies heavily on the better seeing eye
A child could be missed if the eye dr does not do entrance tests properly
- VA with both eyes open
- not making sure each eye is properly to prevent peeking
- skipping parts of the exam
- assumptions that little children cant have visual impairments
Anisometropia amblyopia and uncorrected refractive error
Causes a constant blur that prevents the brain from getting clear information via the visual pathway
The effect of blur is highest in the critical period of development of the visual system (in the first years of life)
Hyperopic anisometropia
Amblyopia resulting from a difference of hyperopia between the 2 eyes is common
As little as 1D of hyperopic anisometropia can affect
- proper fusion at D and N; and
- cause amblyopia in the more hyperopic eye
If both eyes are hyperopic
The less hyperopic eye can maintain control, keep some motor and sensory fusion
In some cases, eso could develop
In hyperopic anisometropia, what can be affected
Stereo
W4D could sho fusion depending on the severity of the amblyopia
You could also pick up a scotoma