Amblyopia

Amblyopia is a condition where the pathway from the eye to the brain does not develop properly, and the brain cannot recognize or interpret the visual input from the eye. The eye may appear to be completely healthy on examination, but have very poor vision because the proper eye-brain connections never formed.

Amblyopia develops in childhood when the eye-brain connections are being formed. Common causes of amblyopia are pediatric cataract, strabismus (misaligned eyes), or refractive error (myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism).

Causes of amblyopia should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible in a child’s life, in order to improve the chance of normal visual development. Treatments for amblyopia can include glasses, patching the eye, special eye drops for the eye, or surgery. Your pediatric ophthalmologist will review the options and make treatment recommendations for your child.