Amblyopia Therapy

Dr. PIYUSH TEWARI

M.S. AFMS
Fellow NARAYANA NETHRALAYA
Work experience
Key area of interest
We at Tewari Eye Centre aim for “exceptional surgical excellence”
We believe in, “leave no stone unturned while planning a surgery” philosophy to achieve desired results.

Dr. PRERNA MATTA

DNB. MNAMS
FELLOW MOORFIELD’S (UK)
Work experience
Key area of interest
We at Tewari Eye Centre aim for “exceptional surgical excellence”
We believe in, “leave no stone unturned while planning a surgery” philosophy to achieve desired results.

Amblyopia and Vision Therapy

This video describes the basic principle & management of amblyopia in children. Amblyopia is commonly referred as“lazy eye”. Here, one eye has full visual potential while the other eye doesn’t. Even with maximal spectacle correction. Vision fails to improve. Traditionally after 12 years of age it becomes very difficult to manage amblyopia by eye patching alone. With the new advances in optics we have achieved fascinating results even at 17-18 years.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Amblyopia or “lazy eye” is a neuro-developmental vision problem that occurs during infancy and early childhood. Those with amblyopia experience reduced eyesight typically in one eye, even when best corrected with glasses or contacts. Left untreated, amblyopia can affect a child’s self-image, work, school, sports, friendships and may also lead towards depression.

Types of amblyopia

When the ability to focus both eyes (binocular vision) is disrupted during early childhood development, the brain turns off or suppresses the incoming signals from the affected eye. Amblyopia occurs when vision development is disrupted in one of the following ways:
Strabismic Amblyopia – This common form of amblyopia occurs when the eyes are misaligned, a condition known as strabismus. To avoid double vision, the brain shuts off or suppresses the weaker eye.
Refractive Amblyopia –This form of amblyopia occurs when one eye has significantly uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. When this happens, the brain favors the eye with better vision and shuts off or suppresses the weaker eye.
Deprivation Amblyopia –This form of amblyopia occurs when light is blocked from entering an eye, such as cataracts or astigmatism. As a result of the obstruction, one eye becomes weaker, and the brain favors the eye without the obstruction, turning off or suppresses the weaker eye.
Symptoms typically include:
  • Squinting or shutting an eye
  • Impaired depth perception
  • Poor eye-hand coordination
  • Tripping and/or accident prone
  • Trouble with micro eye movement
  • Slower reading speed and comprehension
Treatment – Beyond Patching
Until recent advancements, treating amblyopia with an eye patch was the general model of care. However, patching:
  • Is very uncomfortable for the patient
  • Has multiple negative side effects
  • Has limited results based on age and usually not recommended past age 10
  • Does not usually develop the patient’s ability to obtain normal binocular vision with depth perception
Now there are better evidence-based methods for treating amblyopia that goes beyond patching.
At Tewari eye centre we are a leading developmental and rehabilitative vision therapy practice. Our doctors and board-certified vision therapists treat amblyopia with intensive office-based vision therapy for more effective results. We address amblyopia with a personalized approach. Each session is one-on-one (therapist-to-patient), conducted under doctor supervision. Our providers utilize the latest technology and methods, including in-office and home-support virtual reality to develop binocular vision and depth perception, making treatment enjoyable and productive. Furthermore, our treatment is designed for all ages.
Our advanced treatment includes:
  • Is very uncomfortable for the patient
  • Has multiple negative side effects
  • Has limited results based on age and usually not recommended past age 10
  • Does not usually develop the patient’s ability to obtain normal binocular vision with depth perception

Frequently asked questions on amblyopia / therapy

Amblyopia causes confusion in vision between the two eyes. Hence brain automatically tries to cut off signal of poor eye to avoid confusion. It’s Is noteworthy to understand that amblyopic eye is not a blind eye. It still has navigational vision. I’m fast many people don’t even even realise this much until their adulthood that one of their eye is a lazy eye.
Early detection and treatment of amblyopia and significantly unequal refractive errors can help to reduce the chances of one eye becoming amblyopic.
Amblyopia is a handicap because it can limit the occupational and leisure activities you can do. Activities requiring good depth perception may be difficult or impossible to perform. In addition, should your good eye become injured or develop vision problems, you may have difficulty maintaining your normal activities. Having said that, most amblyopic patients lead a normal life except with a few limitations. And with new technologies we are now curing amblyopia in patient as old as 18 years.
Once developed, amblyopia will neither deteriorate nor progress. It will remain same.

Patching should be stopped in these two conditions.
1. If visual recovery is complete and not further improvement is expected.
2. If there is no improvement in visual acuity or contrast after 1 year of patching.
3. if the age of patient is greater than 12 years. In such cases patching alone will not work. We treat such patient with amblyopia therapy.

Amblyopia therapy should be given for at least 3 months before any observable improvement is seen. Therapy is given until maximum potential of patient vision is reached.
If on initial assessment the child obeys the commands properly and is under 18!years of age. Therapy should work. We still give trial and assess the response before prescribing the treatment.
You can continue the next session as soon as possible. We encourage dedication beca patient compliance it the most important factor in success of this therapy.