Amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” is a vision development disorder in which one eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity, even with prescription glasses or contact lenses. This condition typically begins during infancy or early childhood and can lead to long-term vision impairment if not treated promptly. Amblyopia usually affects only one eye, but in rare cases, both eyes may be involved.
The primary cause of amblyopia is poor or abnormal visual stimulation during the critical period of visual development. When the brain receives unequal or blurred images from the two eyes, it begins to favor the stronger eye and suppress the weaker one. Over time, this lack of use causes the weaker eye’s vision to deteriorate. Common underlying conditions include strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), refractive errors such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, and visual obstruction like cataracts.
There are three main types of amblyopia. Strabismic amblyopia occurs when…