pediatrics
Amblyopia
Key Points
Amblyopia is visual loss in an eye caused by lack of clearly focused, properly aligned input to the visual cortex from each eye during early childhood prior to maturation of the visual pathways. Diagnosis is mainly by screening tests, including photoscreening, and early diagnosis and early initiation of treatment are crucial to a successful outcome. Treatment is directed at the cause (eg, correcting refractive error, removing cataracts, treating strabismus) in addition to patching or administeringatropinedrops into the better eye to provide a visual advantage to the amblyopic eye. 