What is Amblyopia?

Amblyopia is a reduction in vision in an otherwise healthy eye. The reduced vision is usually at the level of the brain. Amblyopia is usually a childhood disorder that is formed during the critical period. What causes Amblyopia? There are three major causes of amblyopia:

• Form Deprivation (Occlusion Amblyopia). This is a condition whereby rays of light from the object of fixation do not reach the retina to form an image. In other words, there is a physical blockage to the rays of light. This physical blockage may be due to cataract or ptosis (droopy eyelid).
• Anisometropic Amblyopia: This type of amblyopia arises when there is unequal refractive error in the two eyes or both eyes have large refractive errors.
• Strabismic Amblyopia: This is a condition whereby one eye is constantly deviated inwards (mostly) or outward relative to the other eye, leading to the misalignment of the visual axis of the deviated eye. When the deviated eye views an object of interest, it sees double (diplopia). The eye does not like double vision, so the patient suppresses the image in that eye. This suppression of image leads to Amblyopia.

How Does Amblyopia Affect the Eye? Because amblyopia occurs during the critical period, schoolwork can be severely affected as a result of poor vision. Normal alignment of the visual axes of both eyes is critical to learning. Amblyopia can result in unequal accommodation (ability of the eye to view at various range of distance). A normal accommodative system is critical to learning.

STABISMUS:

This is another condition that has the potential to affect learning. It is a misalignment of the eyes in which one or both eyes may turn in, out, up, or down. It may be caused by muscle or neurological problems. Signs and symptoms may include decreased vision, head tilt, and lack of depth perception.

As stated above, the two conditions above have the potential to profoundly affect a child's ability to function in a classroom setting, therefore the need to consult your eye doctor when you suspect any of these conditions cannot be overemphasized.

At Global Reach Family Eye Clinic, PLLC, our doctors work with parents to minimize or avoid any adverse effect.

CATARACT:

This is a condition where the natural lens of the eye becomes opaque leading to loss of vision. The etiology of cataract may be congenital or acquired. The acquired type is the most common and depending on the part of the world that you live, may show up at about 50 years of age. When your cataract is matured, and you are unable to function well in your day-to-day activities, your eye doctor may recommend surgical consultation.

DRY EYES:

The tears in our eyes have a lot of functions. Among other things, they serve as a vehicle for nutrients to the ocular surface, fight infections, and dislodge foreign objects from our eyes. A decrease in tear film and/or an imbalance in its composition results in chronic irritation, and visual disturbance that is commonly referred to as dry eyes.

The following may be reasons for dry eyes:

Systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis; the drugs that we use, such as diuretics; environmental factors, such as low humidity, pollutants, smoke; infectious diseases, such as blepharitis; which is an inflammatory condition of the eyelids associated with bacteria. In this condition, the patient feels there is a foreign body in his/her eyes, with some tearing and redness. Other causes of dry eye may include reading (blink rate decreases when we are on the computer), contact lens wear, and old age.

Research estimates that about 5 – 30 % of the general population have dry eyes. Patients may experience blurring of vision and a burning sensation. If you suspect that you have dry eyes, contact your eye doctor.

MYOPIA OR NEAR SIGHTEDNESS:

As the name suggests, myopia is a condition whereby the patient has good vision at near but blurry at distance. This occurs because the eye is too long or has too much power so much so that the image of a fixated object falls before the retina, resulting in blurry vision.

Most common treatments for Myopia are glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery.

HYPERMETROPIA OR FAR SIGHTEDNESS:

As the name suggests. Hypermetropia is a condition, in general, whereby the patient has good vision at far but not at near. This occurs because the eyeball is too short or has little power so much so that the image of a fixated object falls behind the retina resulting in blurry vision.

Most common treatment for hypermetropia are glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery.

ASTIGMATISM:

Astigmatism is a condition of the eye in which the cornea, primarily, and the lens, have unequal curvatures, resulting in blurry vision. Patient may miscall letters, have headache, or even “lazy eye” depending on the degree of astigmatism.

Most common treatment for astigmatism is glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery.

PRESBYOPIA (AGED EYES)

Our ability to see at near is governed by the ability of the natural lens to reshape itself. As we get older, generally, at about 40 years, the lens gradually loses this elasticity, making it difficult to see at near. We increasingly find ourselves moving reading materials further away in order to read. This condition is termed Presbyopia.

Most common treatment is glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery.

Do you feel presbyopic? Give us a call, and we will work with you to determine the most suitable treatment option for you.