Lazy eye syndrome

The lazy eye syndrome or amblyopia is a functional (reversible) vision loss, in which one eye is partially or in general not involved in the visual process. Since the eyes in this case see different patterns - the brain can not compare them in a single volumetric image. As a result, the work of one eye is inhibited, binocular vision is absent.

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Epidemiology

It is estimated that this disorder occurs in 1-5% of the world's population. Most often, pathology develops in early childhood.

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Causes of the lazy eye syndrome

The causes of amblyopia most often include the following diseases:

• strabismus,
• cataract,
• ptosis,
• refractive disorders,
• astigmatism,
• nystagmus

This is due to the fact that both eyes do not work identically and can not send the same images to the brain.

With strabismus, one eye can not focus on the subject that the patient is trying to see. In this situation, the brain begins to ignore the image out of focus. This leads to the fact that the eye becomes less strong. After a while, this eye can remain in a biased state, resulting in the development of the lazy eye syndrome.

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Symptoms of the lazy eye syndrome

Usually lazy eye syndrome occurs in early childhood up to 6 years. Symptoms of amblyopia can be seen with the naked eye. A timely diagnosis and timely start of treatment is the key to success in the fight against this pathology. It is for this reason that children of 6 months are recommended to conduct a full ophthalmological examination, the next - at the age of 3 years.

Symptoms of lazy eye syndrome in children:

• Different directions of eyes.
• A greater predominance of one of the eyes.
• Weak perception of depth.
• The sight of one eye is much worse than the other.

The clinical symptom of the lazy eye syndrome in adults differs from children's:

• Forked image.
• Sensation of shroud or fog in the eyes.
• Fuzzy outlines of objects.
• Omission of the upper eyelid.
• Significant reduction in visual acuity.

The lazy eye syndrome is characterized by several functional abnormalities in the spatial vision, including deterioration of visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CSF), as well as spatial distortion, anomalous spatial interactions, and violation of contour detection. In addition, individuals with this syndrome suffer from impairment of binocular vision, such as stereoscopic impairment of visual acuity and anomalous binocular summation.

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Forms

Depending on the cause that causes the disease, distinguish such types of amblyopia:

1. Deprivational - appears due to organic damage to one of the eyes. Most often it is a congenital form, or acquired as a result of corneal opacity, cataracts. Such amblyopia is hard to correct.
2. Anisometropic - appears with a large difference in the refractive powers of the eyes. It is typical for a significant reduction in the visualization of one eye. This kind of pathology can not be corrected with spectacles or lenses, which complicates treatment.
3. Disbinocular - occurs with strabismus. Most often it is typical for children under 6 years old. Treatment is not particularly difficult, if the time to detect the disease and make the correct diagnosis.
4. Hysterical - reversible deterioration of visual acuity in cases of mental disorders, in particular in hysteria. Often associated with photophobia and neurological symptoms. Treatment consists in the withdrawal of a patient from such a condition.
5. Refractive - occurs when a refractive disorder occurs in one or both eyes.

Diagnostics of the lazy eye syndrome

In order to prescribe the right treatment, it is necessary to diagnose and establish the correct diagnosis. The lazy eye syndrome in adults is determined with a complete ophthalmological examination. It is very important for proper diagnosis of the collection of anamnesis, as well as the patient's complaints. The ophthalmologist must first visually assess the patient's condition and conduct an external examination, paying special attention to the eyeballs and eye slits, as well as the condition of the eyelids. It is also important to assess pupils' condition and how they react to light stimuli.

Diagnosis of amblyopia involves carrying out a variety of tests. First of all, it is necessary to assess visual acuity, which is determined by means of a special board with letters of different sizes. It is also necessary to determine the color perception of the patient and perimetry. Additional methods for diagnosing the lazy eye syndrome are biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy. These methods will help the doctor to conduct an examination of the fundus.

To assess the refractive power, an examination is made of the transmission capacity of the vitreous body of the eye and the lens. With strabismus - it is necessary to determine the angle of strabismus.

Treatment of the lazy eye syndrome

Occlusion is the main method of treating amblyopia. It consists in wearing the eye patch to make the lazy eye work. This procedure should last 3-4 hours a day, not permanently. The result of this method of treatment depends on the child's age, the severity of the disease and the exact observance of the doctor's instructions.

If your child refuses to wear an eye patch, you may want to consider using specially designed contact lenses that prevent light from entering your eyes. Such lenses will not spoil the appearance of your child.

If the eye patch is worn for some reason does not work, use of Atropine drops is possible. One drop of the drug drips into a healthy eye, which contributes to the constant dilatation of the pupil and blurriness of the image. This leads to the fact that the brain makes the lazy eye "work". This method has the advantage of not wearing any bandages, and photosensitivity is noted among the side effects. Constant dilatation of the pupil can lead to paralysis of the ciliary muscle, which leads to a violation of the accommodation of the eye and the ability to focus.

If the development of amblyopia is due to a violation of refraction, the treatment of pathology is to wear glasses, lenses, laser vision correction, for children recommend vitamins for vision [Blueberry Fort, Vitrum Vision (Vision), Doppel Herz Lecithin and Active).

If the cause of the lazy eye syndrome is myopia or hyperopia, ophthalmologists recommend the use of corrective contact lenses or glasses.

With strabismus, the lower eyelid, cataracts for the elimination of the lazy eye syndrome, surgical intervention is used, because initially it is necessary to eliminate the causes, and only then to begin correction of amblyopia.

Frequently used in ophthalmology methods of treatment of the lazy eye syndrome are laser stimulation, electrostimulation, photo pulses. These methods help stimulate the work of a lazy eye.

In the complex treatment of the lazy eye syndrome, special exercises are also prescribed that will help train a lazy eye.

New treatments

Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain can temporarily improve the contrast sensitivity and spatial resolution in the affected eye in adults with amblyopia. This method of treatment is under development. In addition, it has been proposed to use various types of brain stimulation in the treatment of lazy eye syndrome with the help of anodic transcranial stimulation by direct current.

Older children and even adults suffering from this disease can use special computer programs that improve visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.

One such program is RevitalVision. Treatment usually consists of 40 40-minute training sessions held for several weeks.

Currently, RevitalVision is the only computerized program for the treatment of lazy eye syndrome, approved by the FDA.

Prevention

The American Optometric Association for the prevention of development of the lazy eye syndrome recommends that the first ophthalmological examination be performed at the age of 6 months, the second examination at the age of 3 years and the third one before entering the school.

For children under the age of one year, as a preventive measure, toys can be placed far away, and bright objects should not be placed close to the child's face.

For effective prevention of amblyopia, there must be a good healthy sleep and systematic lifting of eye strain, which is provided by special exercises.

The lazy eye syndrome is a disease that requires, at the first signs of treatment, an ophthalmologist, it is amenable to therapy, and diagnosis is not particularly difficult.

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