Amblyopia and Strabismus For Medical Students & GP

Samir Jamal MD, FRCSC KAUH

Amblyopia

Unilateral or bilateral decrease in vision not corrected by glasses in otherwise healthy eyes.

(The patient sees nothing and the doctor sees nothing)

Amblyopia

Potentially reversible unilateral or bilateral inhibition of normal visual development secondary to abnormal visual experience occurring during the critical period of visual development.

Amblyopia

Basic Information: Newborns have poor vision at birth

Visual acuity reaches normal adult level by age of three years Vision remains plastic until the age of 12 years

Significance of Amblyopia

Prevalence: 2-3% of the general population suffer from amblyopia. It is a treatable form of vision loss if diagnosed and treated in the first decade of life.

Significance of Amblyopia
Poor vision in one eye loss of stereoacuity loss of job opportunities. Amblyopia patients have higher chance of blindness than the general population.

Classification of Amblyopia (Types/Causes)

1.

Strabismic

2.

Sensory deprivation Ptosis Cataracts

Classification of Amblyopia (Types)

3.

4.

Ametropic High hyperopic High myopia Astigmatism Anisometropic

unequal refractive errors

Treatment of Amblyopia
1. 2.

3.
4. 5.

Early diagnosis Removal of the pathological obstacle Treatment of refractive errors Patching Drops