Amblyopia
- Poor visual acuity as result of visual deprivation
- Arises within first years of life
- Occurs in strabismus (ocular misalignment), anisometropia (unequal refractive errors in eyes), ptosis, corneal or lens opacity
- Almost always limited to one eye
- Reversible if detected early
- Treated by blocking vision in unaffected eye and eliminating provocative condition
- Subnormal visual acuity in one eye
- One of provocative conditions (strabismus, anisometropia, ptosis, media opacity) will be present but may not be obvious
- No afferent pupil defect
- No other ocular or retro-ocular abnormalities to account for subnormal acuity
- Uncorrected refractive error
- Lesion of ocular media, retina, or visual pathway
- Psychogenic visual loss
- Refer non-urgently for diagnosis of provocative condition and treatment
- Treatment consists of occlusion or cycloplegia of unaffected eye and elimination of provocative condition
- Reversal of amblyopia most effective if treatment undertaken at early age
