According to new study some light was thrown on the vision loss with lazy eye, but not in the eye affected by the condition. The study focuses on the risk of vision loss in the normal eye in the future. At least 2 percent of the population is born with amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye.
Many countries routinely screen for lazy eye. The goal is to restore vision to as normal as possible in that eye. Some, but not all, countries place high importance on screening and treating because of the concern that the person may eventually lose eyesight in their healthy eye. English researchers set out to investigate the risk, causes and outcomes of vision loss in the healthy eye of patients with amblyopia.A total of 350 individuals with lazy eye and vision loss in their healthy eye were followed over a two-year time span. Of the participants, 30 percent had significant visual impairment, 50 percent had visual impairment, and 20 percent had severe visual impairment or blindness. About 40 percent of people who had been employed were unable to work after losing their vision in their healthy eye.
Researchers point out that screening and treating lazy eye early can help maintain better sight overall. According to them in addition to the benefits of improved vision in the amblyopic eye, treatment of amblyopia during childhood is a potentially valuable strategy to prevent incapacitating vision loss later in life.
