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amblyopia
Suppression of central vision.
Etiology:
- impaired vision during development
- poor image formation due to:
a) corneal scar
b) cataracts
c) droopy eyelid
Epidemiology:
- most common form of visual impairment in children
Pathology:
- unequal refractive error of at least 2 diopters
- in order to avoid confusion one of the two images is suppressed
Clinical manifestations:
- eyes pointing in different directions
Management:
1) developmental amblyopia
a) most can be reversed if treated before 6 years of age
b) standard screening at 37 months of age
c) screening at 8, 12, 18, 25, 31 & 37 months may lead to earlier detection & improved outcomes [3]
2) an eye patch is placed over the good eye for weeks to months to force use of the lazy eye
3) atropine sulfate 1% 1 drop QD in good eye
a) temporarily blurs vision of good eye, forcing the lazy eye to be used
b) works as well as patch [2]
c) wear sunglasses & a hat while outdoors {dilates pupil}
Comparative biology:
- transplantation of GABAergic neurons into the visual cortex of adult amblyopic mice restores develpmental plasticity of visual cortex [4]
General
sign/symptom
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999
- Prescriber's Letter 9(5):28 2002
- Journal Watch 22(16):128, 2002
Williams C et al, BMJ 324:1549, 2002
- University of California, Irvine Press Release. May 18, 2015
Neurobiologists restore youthful vigor to adult mouse brains
http://news.uci.edu/press-releases/uci-neurobiologists-restore-youthful-vigor-to-adult-brains/