Orthoptics Knowledge

Common causes of amblyopia are:

• Refractive error: Significant myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), or astigmatism in one or both eyes can cause defocused images, disrupting normal vision development which relies on clear image stimulation on the retina.

Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, refers to poor vision in one eye, or rarely both eyes, even when wearing glasses. Vision development begins at birth and continues throughout childhood up to about 9 years old. Amblyopia occurs when vision is disrupted for any reason during this critical period.

Treatment for squint may include:

• Glasses: Many childhood squints are related to uncorrected refractive error. Glasses may help to correct the squint or reduce its severity.

Squint can be congenital or acquired. Acquired causes include diseases of nervous system, accidents, or uncorrected long-sightedness or short-sightedness. In many cases, the cause is unknown. However, there may be a family history of squints.