What type of vision problem is amblyopia?

Amblyopia, often referred to as "lazy eye," is primarily characterized as a developmental vision disorder where one eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity, typically due to a lack of use during formative years. The condition commonly arises as a result of untreated strabismus, which is the misalignment of the eyes. When one eye is misaligned, the brain may start to ignore the input from that eye to avoid double vision, leading to the underdevelopment of visual pathways and reduced vision in that eye.

While amblyopia can also be linked to other factors such as refractive errors or deprivation (like cataracts), the connection to untreated strabismus is one of the most prevalent causes. This highlights that if the condition of misalignment is not addressed early on, it can lead to amblyopia, making the link between these two conditions crucial in understanding the developmental aspects of vision problems in children. Thus, identifying amblyopia through its relationship with untreated strabismus is key to developing effective treatment plans and preventing long-term vision issues.