LAZY EYE (AMBLYOPIA)

In this blog post, we will be discussing Amblyopia, otherwise called LAZY EYE. It is a vision development disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and is the most common cause of vision loss in children. AMBLYOPIA begins in childhood; therefore, understanding Amblyopia is crucial, especially since those affected have no control over how their eyes function. In this exploration, we’ll dive into the captivating world of Amblyopia—uncovering its causes, recognizing its symptoms, and looking at the array of treatment options available. Join us as we shed light on this condition and what it means for those living with it!

WHAT IS AMBLYOPIA?

Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is a type of poor vision that usually occurs in just one eye, but it rarely happens in both eyes. It is experienced when the brain Favours one eye over the other, leading to reduced vision in the affected eye. If left untreated, amblyopia can cause permanent vision loss.

HOW DOES THIS CONDITION DEVELOP?

It develops when there is a breakdown (failure) in how the brain and the eye work together (one eye has poor vision while the other eye sees clearly), the brain is not wired to receive information from one only eye, however, the brain begins to disregard the eye with blurry vision and predominantly uses the clearer eye for sight. As the brain continues to depend on one eye, over time, the brain has no choice but to make do with the other eye, which is now recognized by the brain as the stronger eye, while vision in the second eye worsens by deteriorating further.
In cases of amblyopia, this is where the name LAZY EYE stems from because the stronger eye works better.

For context: Amblyopia is frequently called lazy vision or lazy eye. Despite the prevalence of these terms, they are misleading. Children with amblyopia are not lazy, nor are their eyes. They did not choose to experience blurry vision, and it is not due to any actions they have taken.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF AMBLYOPIA? We will learn about that in our next post.

Amblyopia is a significant medical concern that requires intervention from an optometrist. Visit TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako Abuja, to consult one.

TREVEC CARES!!!