Common Eye Conditions

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) - Amblyopia, also referred to as lazy eye, is a lack of normal visual development in an otherwise healthy eye. The condition affects ~3% of the population, and can cause a loss of vision if untreated. Amblyopia is most commonly caused by uncorrected refractive error (nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatism) or strabismus (eye-turn).

How the Eye Works

The five senses include sight, sound, taste, hearing and touch. Sight, like the other senses is closely related to other parts of our anatomy. The eye is connected to the brain and dependent upon the brain to interpret what we see.

How we see depends upon the transfer of light. Light passes through the front of the eye (cornea) to the lens. The cornea and the lens help to focus the light rays onto the back of the eye (retina). The cells in the retina absorb and convert the light to electrochemical impulses, which are transferred along the optic nerve and then to the brain.

What is a Refractive Error?  Refractive error means that the shape of your eye does not bend light correctly, resulting in a blurred image. The main types of refractive errors are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (loss of near vision with age), and astigmatism. Together these vision conditions are referred to as refractive errors because they affect how the eyes bend or "refract" light.