Detection of Amblyopia

By Paulette Schmidt, OD, MS

The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Amblyopia is reduced clearness of vision in one or both eyes that is not immediately improved by wearing glasses. Amblyopia is not due to other obvious eye anomalies. The most frequent causes of amblyopia include uncorrected refractive error (farsightedness and/or astigmatism) and strabismus (eye misalignment). Glasses are used in treating amblyopia to align eyes if strabismus is present and to provide the clearest possible image to the amblyopic eye, essential for vision to improve. Glasses also protect the good eye from accidental injury until amblyopia is eliminated.

Undetected and untreated, amblyopiacan lead to visual impairment, loss of the ability to accurately judge distances (critical in biking and driving) and occupational limitations. Further, for our youngest children, undetected and untreated amblyopia may preclude children’s full development and impair productive participation in society.

The following additional facts about amblyopia emphasize the serious nature of this preventable vision disorder:

	Amblyopia occurs in as many as 1 in every 20 children.
	Among 3-year-old children, an estimated 75,000 to 200,000 have amblyopia.
	Children with amblyopia are at 16 times the risk for blindness of the good eye in comparison to children with normal vision. Therefore, eye safety protection of the good eye is critical for children with amblyopia.

Please note, vision loss due to amblyopia is not limited to children. Amblyopia:

	Accounts for six million Americans with significant loss of vision.
	Is responsible for loss of vision in more people 45 years of age and younger than all other eye disease and trauma combined.
	Is the leading cause of vision loss in one eye among adults aged 20-70 years.

Amblyopia is an important cause of visual impairment with origins in childhood which, if undetected and untreated, can prevent a child’s full visual development and can also adversely affect vision in later life. Adults with amblyopia are at greater risk for vision loss in the good eye. Vision loss due to amblyopia is preventable with treatment. However, before treatment can begin, children with or at risk for amblyopia must be detected. Effective detection will be the subject of future articles.