AMBLYOPIA Meaning and
Definition
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Amblyopia refers to a medical condition characterized by reduced vision in one or both eyes, often colloquially known as "lazy eye." It occurs when the brain and the eye(s) do not work together effectively, leading to impaired visual development during childhood. Typically, amblyopia affects only one eye, but in some cases, it can influence both eyes.
The most common cause of amblyopia is strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes, which causes the brain to disregard the input from the deviating eye. Additionally, amblyopia can also be caused by a condition called anisometropia, wherein each eye has significantly different refractive errors, leading the brain to favor one eye over the other. In both cases, the brain eventually suppresses or inhibits vision in the weaker eye, resulting in reduced visual acuity.
Amblyopia usually develops in early childhood, during the critical period of visual development, typically starting before the age of six. If left untreated, the condition can persist into adulthood, affecting daily activities such as reading, driving, and depth perception. Treatment options for amblyopia primarily involve correcting the underlying cause and encouraging the brain to use the weaker eye. These approaches may include eyeglasses, eye patches, or eye drops that temporarily blur vision in the stronger eye, forcing the weaker eye to adapt and strengthen.
Early diagnosis and treatment of amblyopia is essential to maximize visual potential and prevent long-term vision impairment. Regular eye examinations for children and timely intervention can significantly improve visual outcomes for individuals affected by this condition.
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Dimness of vision, partial loss of sight without discoverable lesion in the eye structures or the optic nerve.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AMBLYOPIA
Etymology of AMBLYOPIA
The word "amblyopia" has its roots in ancient Greek. It is derived from two Greek words: "amblys" meaning "blunt" or "dull", and "ops" meaning "eye". When combined, they form "amblyops" which refers to an eye with reduced visual acuity or lazy eye. The term "amblyopia" was later adopted in modern medicine to describe the condition where one eye has diminished vision or is not aligned properly with the other eye.
Similar spelling words for AMBLYOPIA
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