MGM Journal of Medical Sciences (Jan 2023)

Treatment of amblyopia: an update

  • Swarna Biseria Gupta,
  • Yuri Kashiv,
  • Himanshu Gaikwad

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/mgmj.mgmj_150_23
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 4
pp. 789 – 793

Abstract

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Amblyopia, the primary cause of one-sided vision impairment among children globally, occurs at a rate of 3.7%. It stems from early visual deprivation or inadequate focusing in one eye, creating an unevenness in visual information sent to the brain’s visual cortex. Consequently, vision diminishes in the affected eye, impacting the coordination between both eyes. When signals from one eye are unclear, the brain inhibits input from that eye, disrupting the visual pathway. Apart from impacting visual coordination, amblyopia can influence tasks like eye-hand coordination, reading, and an individual’s self-perception. Several therapies have emerged for treating amblyopia in both children and adults. Traditional treatments mainly penalized the stronger eye through patching or medicinal penalization. Yet, these methods have limitations concerning their effectiveness and patient comfort, affecting individuals and their families. Recent studies indicate that people with amblyopia retain binocular cortical mechanisms responsive to varying visual stimuli levels. As a result, a more practical approach might involve simultaneously stimulating both eyes to enhance vision in the weaker eye, diminish suppression, and bolster binocular vision.

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