What is amblyopia?

Even if you do not necessarily notice it, it is possible that your child may develop amblyopia. This visual disorder, characterised by the more marked development of one of the two eyes, often goes unnoticed. 

However, it is a pathology that deserves your full attention, as it could eventually lead to unequal binocular vision. 

Orthoptist Anne-Claude Rouiller explains this vision problem in more detail.

How does amblyopia develop?

Amblyopia is a visual defect usually related to a loss of vision.

During the development of vision in the first few years of life, a child may develop blurred vision in one eye. The most common cause is a refractive disorder: astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia. These diseases can easily be corrected by wearing glasses if they are detected in time. 

Strabismus, or “squint”, can also be the cause of blurred vision. 

These visual disorders involve the brain receiving a sharp image from the better eye and a blurred image from the other eye. It then chooses one of the two images. It is therefore important to quickly detect this problem, which can be easily treated in most cases.

Note that it is not always easy to detect amblyopia, because the child is able to adapt with only one functional eye.

How is amblyopia treated?

After a certain age, it will no longer be possible to re-train the brain to see with both eyes. Therefore, the earlier the screening is carried out, the more effective the results will be. 

• The first step is to present two clear images to the brain by correcting the refractive disorders. After an ophthalmological examination, a prescription for glasses with adapted corrective lenses will allow the child to regain clear vision. 
• Next, the most effective and quickest method to treat amblyopia is occlusion. The idea is to hide the better eye in order to force the weaker eye to work and transmit an image to the brain. 

Depending on the child’s age and the level of vision of the bad eye, the duration can vary from one to several hours per day. The earlier in life the treatment is undertaken, the greater the chances and speed of treatment.

The patch should be worn during activities that stimulate vision. For example, reading a book will promote near vision. 

The duration of treatment depends on how vision develops, and varies from child to child. It usually lasts a few months, up to a few years. The treatment should continue until symmetrical vision is obtained.

What are the risks if amblyopia is not treated?

It is quite possible to live with only one functional eye. However, the risk is that if the good eye is damaged over the course of a lifetime, the situation can become highly problematic. In order to avoid this risk, the treatment of amblyopia is essential. 

The other risk is that the brain continues to neglect learning the vision of the weaker eye. After a few years, the situation becomes irreversible, and the poor vision of the weak eye can no longer be corrected.

Find out more about amblyopia

Does this article make you think that your child is developing amblyopia? We have created a page dedicated to this eye disease. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

And if your child has already been diagnosed with amblyopia, our orthoptics professionals have prepared some tips to help your child accept the patch.