Amblyopia(Lazy Eyes): Causes, Symptoms, and Latest Management Approaches

Refractive

Refractive amblyopia is the most common type of lazy eye. It happens when a child is born with a refractive error in one eye. That is, one eye suffers astigmatism, near or farsightedness. As a result, the brain perceives unclear images despite the eyes being aligned. In response, it suppresses the inputs from the weaker eyes and relies more on the stronger eyes for better vision. It causes neural pathways to bend, and the eyes do not move in synchronization.

Deprivation

It develops when children develop cataracts or similar conditions and children deprived of complete vision. If the condition remains untreated, Amblyopia will progress, and the child will remain deprived of good vision.

What causes a lazy eye in adults?

If Amblyopia is not treated in childhood, it persists in adulthood. Apart from this, the adult can develop Amblyopia for the following reasons:

• Neurological disorder
• Stroke
• Brain injury
• Blood pressure fluctuations
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Binocular vision problems due to prolonged usage of computer screens

The squint due to Amblyopia may not be quite visible but you must consult an eye doctor soon if you see any significant vision changes after the cases mentioned above.

Lazy Eye Symptoms

Lazy eye symptoms in kids

● Wandering eyes
● Squints
● Coordination problems in eyes
● Head tilting
● Poor depth perception
● Abnormal results in eye screening tests

Kids who suffer from Amblyopia without visible eye coordination differences often face the following difficulties in studies and today’s life.

● Blackboard does not appear clear
● Poor reading speed or reading comprehension
● Blurry characters
● Writing above lines

In sports, they may see the following symptoms:

● Glares in vision
● Problem balancing
● Poor perception in-depth and distance

The children with lazy eyes often face problems in focussing. As a result, the “good eye” has to work harder to compensate for the deficit. It may alter their accommodative vision power.
The chances of a child suffering from Amblyopia are more if:

● The child was born prematurely
● There is a family history of Amblyopia
● The child develops cataracts or similar eye conditions at a very early age.
● The specs are not correct.

So if parents notice cross-eyes or decline of class performance in their children, they should consider consulting an ophthalmologist for amblyopia treatment for the child.

In adults, wandering eyes is the most obvious symptom, but the angular deviation may progress faster. Typically focussed work on computer screens may also attract or progress this disorder.

Diagnosis of Amblyopia

It can be diagnosed by an eye physician, pediatrician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist. The doctor physically examines the eyes by

● Dilating the eyes with an eye drop
● Physical eye examinations
● Inspecting one eye at a time
● Asking older children to read the chart

The objective of the examination is to figure out

● Check whether eyes move together
● Vision in each eye
● Anomalies such as cataract, eye injury, or any other eye condition that may lead to the development of Amblyopia
● Vision difference
● Alignment issues

Ways to Fix Lazy Eye: Amblyopia treatments

Eye Patching

It is considered gold-standard amblyopia treatment in which the good eye is penalized by covering it. And the person is asked to use only the weak eye to develop vision potential.

A good vision is secured with eyes and brain teamwork. In Amblyopia, when the vision from one eye is not aligned, or the inputs from one eye are unclear, the brain suppresses the inputs from the otherwise healthy eye. Patching the good eye leaves no option but to take inputs from the afflicted eye, and thus brain works to improve vision in that eye.

Eye patching aims to force the weaker eye to work more. In addition, to get clearer inputs, the eyes work to realign vision and reverse strabismus symptoms.

EyeGlasses

Another way of treating Amblyopia is by recommending prescription glasses. The glasses correct the refractive errors due to myopia, hypermetropia, or blurred vision.

The eye’s accommodative power often alters due to surgery, cataract, or other eye complications. Wearing the wrong glasses may lead to strabismus or refractive Amblyopia. Therefore, the eye doctor recommends wearing prescription glasses with the following specialty.

Corrective Eyeglasses- Customized prescription eyeglasses are used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism that may concurrently lead to Amblyopia.

Bangerter filter– A special filter layer is placed on the glasses of the good eye, which blurs the image. It works like eye patching, stimulating the afflicted eye to develop a stronger neural connection to see properly.

Eye Drops

An atropine eye drop can be put in the good eye to temporarily blur the vision. However, it’s regular usage encourages weaker eye use, and gradually the dependence of vision on the right eye shifts to both eyes, correcting Amblyopia.

Surgery

In a few cases, droopy eyelids, cataracts, corneal lining rupture may cause deprivation amblyopia. Surgery is the last resort option when other treatments are not effective for Amblyopia treatment such that the eyes keep wandering.

Apart from this, exercises and clinical orthoptic therapies effectively treat Amblyopia with a range of binocular vision issues. The treatment may take six months to two years to properly treat Amblyopia.

Is It possible to treat Amblyopia in adults?

In a few cases, droopy eyelids, cataracts, corneal lining rupture may cause deprivation amblyopia. Surgery is the last resort option when other treatments are not effective for Amblyopia treatment such that the eyes keep wandering.

Apart from this, exercises and clinical orthoptic therapies effectively treat Amblyopia with a range of binocular vision issues. The treatment may take six months to two years to properly treat Amblyopia.

Why is there a misconception about the untreatability of Amblyopia in adults?

Earlier, Strabismus and Amblyopia were considered developmental vision issues, which became permanent disorders if not corrected at initial ages.

But recent studies narrate a different story. The researchers highlight the brain’s plasticity theory to combat Amblyopia. According to the theory, the brain rewires itself several times a day. Hence particular faculties of the brain can be stimulated by utilizing circuitry concepts.

That is why the latest amblyopia treatment approaches are based on funnel methodology. This method presents specific inputs to the brain (through visuals) that reform neural circuits. The newly developed circuits become permanent with regular usage of the same method. That is how eye-brain coordination helps vision improvement, reversing Amblyopia.

So, Amblyopia can be corrected in adulthood by rewiring the visual system, which comprises eyes, brain, and visual circuitry.

What’s New About The “AmblyGo” Treatment?

Traditionally, Amblyopia is a monocular problem that causes binocular vision problems. Typically, eye-patching is considered the gold standard treatment. But this treatment method has some limitations for example-

● It requires penalizing the good eye for two to six hours every day.
● The results improve gradually, and the process is extremely long.
● Patching may not look suitable, and adolescents or kids may refrain from patching treatment.
● 20-50% of eye patch cases witness recurrence of Amblyopia on stopping the treatment.
● This treatment approach may be futile for a higher age.

Contrary to the traditional approach that is patching, “AmblyGo” is an innovative and fun way to eliminate Amblyopia. In this digital therapy, the brain is trained to perceive the suppressed inputs from the weaker eyes and gradually balance individual eyes to achieve balanced unanimous binocular vision.

Our game-based treatment approach is based on the dichoptic principle in which contrast-adjusted images are presented to both eyes, the dominant eye receiving lesser contrast images. The advantage of this solution is that contrast images can be adjusted in progressive sessions according to the recovery of the afflicted eye. Hence, the treatment approach is very effective and naturally converts amblyopic eyes to non-amblyopic ones by improving eye-to-brain coordination.

Feasibility of the latest Management Approach of Lazy eyes?

Our vision therapy software is a science-backed vision improvement process. The software includes various engaging games that stimulate all brain parts and rewires it to respond to the contrast-adjusted inputs presented during those sessions.

Six days, 40-minute sessions in a week can remarkably improve the symptoms of Amblyopia. However, the complete treatment may take months depending on the amblyopia condition.

If you’re still wondering how feasible this therapy is, here’s a success story of the amblyopia treatment of Charlie who is thanking Bynocs for treating his Amblyopia in a playful way.

Patient Testimonials | Bynocs | HD

Our latest science-backed treatment was developed by the most qualified team of ophthalmologists, optometrists, and software developers. It offers several benefits such as: