Amblyopia

What are the signs and symptoms of amblyopia?

Signs and symptoms of amblyopia may be subtle, and will generally include either blurred vision, misaligned eyes or poor depth perception. If a child sees well out of one eye, they may never complain about their vision, so these findings are often discovered only after routine vision screenings at the pediatrician’s office or school. If a child does report blurry vision, or there is an observed eye misalignment, these could be signaling refractive, strabismic, or deprivation amblyopia and they should be examined as soon as possible.

How do we test for and diagnose amblyopia?

You child’s doctor can diagnose amblyopia by performing a comprehensive eye exam in which they evaluate visual acuity, stereopsis (depth perception), farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism, eye alignment and overall ocular health.

What can I expect from a pediatric eye exam?

Plan for the initial visit to take between 2 to 3 hours. The overall experience is generally positive and interactive. The most stressful portion of the eye examination for children is often the administration of the eye drops for dilation. Eye drops are necessary in order to most accurately measure the refractive error as well as to allow for comprehensive examination of the optic nerve and retina. Our team is well-trained in administering eye drops to children, so this usually isn’t anything to worry about.

How do we diagnose amblyopia?

Amblyopia is diagnosed when it becomes evident that the child is unable to read 20/20 (or their age-appropriate level) in one or both eyes, even when wearing glasses.

How do we treat amblyopia?

Glasses are often the mainstay of amblyopia treatment to provide clear vision to the brain. It is important to wear the glasses or contact lenses consistently. Your child’s doctor may also recommend putting a patch over the stronger eye in order to encourage the child to use the weaker eye and strengthen it. In certain circumstances, we may prescribe a dilating eye drop in the place of a physical patch in order to blur the stronger eye and encourage use of the weaker eye.

There is no surgery that will improve the vision in amblyopia. However, surgery may be necessary in cases where the eyes are misaligned or when there is a visual obstruction. In these cases, amblyopia therapy (glasses, contact lenses and patching) will often be initiated before the surgery and continued after the procedure.

Why choose us for treatment of amblyopia?

We have an excellent team of pediatric eye care providers with ample experience in the diagnosis and treatment of amblyopia. Our ophthalmologists are board-certified and fellowship-trained in pediatric ophthalmology (the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye) and our optometrists are board-certified and residency-trained in pediatric optometry. Early detection and treatment of amblyopia can prevent permanent vision loss, which is why it is essential that children who are suspected of having amblyopia are seen by a pediatric eye care specialist.

Helpful resources

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) works to advance the quality of children's eye care, support the training of pediatric ophthalmologists, support research activities in pediatric ophthalmology and advance the care of adults with strabismus.