Amblyopia - Lazy Eye Flashcards
What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” is a developmental disorder where vision is reduced in one or both eyes despite no detectable structural abnormality.
What causes amblyopia?
It is caused by abnormal visual input during critical periods of visual development, leading to reduced neural connections in the visual cortex.
What are the main types of amblyopia?
Strabismic amblyopia, refractive amblyopia, deprivation amblyopia.
What is strabismic amblyopia?
Amblyopia caused by misalignment of the eyes (strabismus), leading to suppression of input from the misaligned eye.
What is refractive amblyopia?
Amblyopia caused by uncorrected refractive errors, such as anisometropia, where one eye has significantly different refractive power than the other.
What is deprivation amblyopia?
Amblyopia caused by physical obstruction of vision, such as congenital cataracts or ptosis.
What is the critical period for visual development?
The critical period is the first few years of life, during which normal visual experiences are essential for proper visual system development.
What are the symptoms of amblyopia?
Reduced vision in one or both eyes, often detected during routine vision screening, without noticeable structural abnormalities.
How is amblyopia diagnosed?
Through visual acuity testing, refraction, and a full eye examination to exclude other ocular conditions.
What is the role of vision screening in detecting amblyopia?
Early vision screening, often at preschool age, helps identify amblyopia and associated risk factors for early intervention.
What is the main treatment goal for amblyopia?
To improve vision in the affected eye and achieve binocular vision if possible.
What is patching therapy in amblyopia?
Covering the stronger eye with a patch to force the use of the weaker eye, promoting neural connections.
What is the role of atropine drops in amblyopia treatment?
Atropine blurs vision in the stronger eye, encouraging the use of the weaker eye as an alternative to patching.
What is the significance of early treatment in amblyopia?
Early treatment increases the likelihood of vision improvement because of the brain’s plasticity during the critical period.
What is the prognosis for untreated amblyopia?
Untreated amblyopia can lead to permanent visual impairment in the affected eye and loss of binocular vision.
What are the risk factors for amblyopia?
Family history, strabismus, refractive errors, premature birth, and conditions causing visual deprivation (e.g., cataracts).
How does anisometropia cause amblyopia?
Unequal refractive errors in the eyes cause one eye to provide a clearer image, leading to suppression of the blurrier eye.
What is binocular vision?
The ability of both eyes to work together to produce a single, three-dimensional image.
What is the role of corrective lenses in amblyopia?
Corrective lenses address refractive errors to improve the quality of visual input in the affected eye.
What is occlusion amblyopia?
Amblyopia that develops from prolonged patching of the stronger eye without adequate monitoring of the weaker eye.
What is the relationship between amblyopia and strabismus?
Strabismus can cause amblyopia by disrupting binocular vision, leading the brain to suppress input from the misaligned eye.
What are potential complications of amblyopia treatment?
Occlusion amblyopia, poor compliance with therapy, and social/psychological impact from patching.
What is the role of vision therapy in amblyopia?
Vision therapy involves exercises to improve eye coordination and strengthen neural pathways for the weaker eye.
How does amblyopia affect depth perception?
Amblyopia impairs binocular vision, reducing depth perception and stereopsis (3D vision).
What is the long-term impact of untreated amblyopia on quality of life?
Reduced vision in one eye can limit career options, impair depth perception, and increase the risk of vision loss if the stronger eye is injured.
