SYMPTOMS
Below is a list of signs and symptoms associated with Amblyopia:
- An eye/eyes that digresses inward or outward
- Eyes that do not adequately coordinate with one another
- Poor depth perception
- Squinting or shutting an eye
- Head tilting
- Abnormal results of vision screening test
It is recommended to see a doctor and get an eye examination to see if one has Amblyopia or not.
Causes
The development of Amblyopia is due to the changes of the nerve pathways between a thin layer of tissue, called the retina, located at the back of the eye and the brain. In this condition, the weaker eye only receives fewer visual signals than the normal one. It will slowly no longer be able to coordinate with the other eye, and any information being processed by the weaker eye would then be ignored or suppressed by the brain.
This condition happens due to the following:
Muscle Imbalance (Strabismus Amblyopia). Because of imbalance of muscles surrounding the eye, this causes the eye/s to cross in or turn out and prevents any coordination between both eyes, thus resulting in Lazy Eye or Amblyopia.
The difference and variation to the sharpness of vision between the eyes (refractive amblyopia) between the information being given by each eye, most likely due to farsightedness or nearsightedness, or even due to astigmatism, can result in lazy eyes. Glasses or contact lenses are then used to correct the flaws observed by the eyes inflicted with amblyopia.
Deprivation. The effects of having a lazy eye can alter or restrict the vision being seen by the eye. Deprivation amblyopia in newborn babies is an urgent case where treatments and medications are primarily needed to prevent any permanent vision loss. Also, this is the most severe type of amblyopia.