Paediatrics: Amblyopia

Amblyopia

Permanent loss of visual acuity in an eye that has not received clear im-ages in the sensitive period of visual development (up to age 7yrs). Most commonly due to squint, but may also develop with refractive errors and cataracts.

Management

Regular orthoptic monitoring with ongoing correction of the refractive error in the ‘lazy’/weaker eye is required.

• Correct refractive error: with glasses.

• Eye patching: attempt to reverse amblyopia, by covering the better eye to force the ‘lazy eye’ to work.

• Eye (muscle) surgery.