
WHAT IS AMBLYOPIA?
Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is an eye defect or functional vision defect characterised by reduced visual acuity in one or both eyes. Images from both eyes merge in the brain, but if the image from one eye is weaker, it is judged as incorrect and the brain discards it to avoid disturbing double vision. The brain gradually ignores stimuli from the weaker eye until it stops using the eye altogether. The result is a significant reduction in vision in the weaker eye and loss of spatial vision when looking with both eyes.
The cause of amblyopia can be strabismus or an uncorrected refractive error from childhood, congenital and some other eye disorders.
Symptoms of amblyopia may include loss of orientation, perceived clumsiness when closing one or both eyes, squinting or tilting the head. It may not be obvious from the outside and therefore an eye examination once a year is extremely important for early diagnosis.
If there is a high degree of refractive error, amblyopia or strabismus in the family, the child should be taken to a specialist ophthalmologist approximately in the 2nd year of life.
If the disease is recognised in time and treatment is started, it can be partially or completely eliminated. After the age of 9, however, treatment is not very effective, because the development of the visual system and the cerebral centre is complete and can no longer be affected. Preventive examinations are therefore very important, because amblyopia cannot be corrected in adulthood.