Amblyopia pt.1 Flashcards
what is amblyopia
When we are born the visual pathway not complete, causing abnormal visual development
what is the amblyopia caused by
Abnormal visual development caused by:
refractive error - blur
pathology
strabismus
when does amblyopia occur
During critical period (birth to 7-8 years old)
what is the critical period
the period where the visual pathway is still forming
if give an abnormal picture during critical period then the visual pathway grows to be used to that
what is the outcome of amblyopia
permenantly reduced Vision/Visual-Acuity
what is the prevalence on amblyopia
approximately 3% of the population
list the 3 periods of visual acuity
- developmental period
- critical period
- sensitive period
what does the developmental period of visual acuity relate to
The period from birth where vision is developing
what does the critical period of visual acuity relate to
The period where vision is susceptible to abnormal visual input
what does the sensitive period of visual acuity relate to
The period where treatment for amblyopia is effective
usually up to the age of 8, but recently found that on older age groups/teenagers it can work
when does the sensitive period of visual acuity occur
- From time of deprivation to teenage/adult years
- 0-18 years old
when does the critical period of visual acuity occur
After birth to 7/8 years
when dos the developmental period of visual acuity occur
Birth to 3/5 years
at which period of visual acuity is the prognosis for improvement better
the critical period, 7/8 years old
when is the first eye test for a child and how is it done
- at the hospital after birth or within the first 6 weeks of life
- doctor checks a rough rx and checks for a red reflex
what is the red reflex appearance of unequal refraction and what will you do if this is found
- non symmetrical
- one red reflex is brighter than the other
- do a cyclo refraction and check the fundus
what is the red reflex appearance of a patient with cataracts
- there is no red reflex in the eye with the cataract or is very dim
- as the presence of the opacity block the fundus
what is the red reflex appearance of a patient with a foreign body abrasion on the cornea
- the red reflection from the pupil will back light the corneal defects or foreign body
- movements of the examiner’s head in one direction will appear to move the corneal defects in the opposite direction
what is the red reflex appearance of a patient with a strabismus
the red reflection is more intense from the deviated eye
what did research on the critical period suggest about, Induced unilateral strabismus (Hubel and Wiesel)
- Eye with strabismus amblyopic
- Few binocular driven cell - no potential for BSV or stereo (due to squint)
- this is the worst to have
what did research on the critical period suggest about, Induced alternating strabismus (Hubel and Wiesel)
- Neither eye has strabismus
- Few binocular driven cells
- The alternation prevents amblyopia
what type of pathology is worst to have during the critical period and why, and what is done when treating this pathology to avoid amblyopia
- unilateral cataract
- as severe amblyopia may happen and binocular cells may go
- patch the good eye in-between cataract surgery if doing cataract one eye at a time
- for bilateral cataract - simultaneous occlusion should be used, where you patch the good eye when waiting to remove the cataract from the other eye to preserve the binocular cells
where is the damage that causes amblyopia found
- Cortical deficit in V1 measured via (fMRI)
- Higher order areas are now also thought to be affected
for what 2 reasons is amblyopia difficult to assess
- Patient cannot determine what it is like NOT to have amblyopia
- Difficult to separate what is due to e.g:
- Cosmetic aspect of the strabismus
- Treatment (bullying)
- Amblyopia:
Reduced V-A
Reduced S-A (stereo-acuity) and binocularity
list 4 examples of effects of reduced stereo-acuity
- Driving e.g. Breaking distances No. of accidents - Navigating around obstacle course - Threading beads on a string - Reaching and grasping
what does amblyopia double the risk of
binocular visual impairment