Vision problems may continue despite successful ?lazy eye? treatment

A recent study published in the February 2011 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology reveals that despite a return to normal or near-normal vision after treatment for lazy eye, patients may still suffer from poor vision. Amblyopia, better known as ?lazy eye?, results in a person having weaker vision in one eye due to a problem in how the eyes and brain work together. Treatment can improve the person?s visual acuity which is measured during an eye-chart test but it doesn?t eliminate all of their visual problems. The study involved 26 children and adults with a history of lazy eye and 39 people with normal vision and examined the ?real-world? perception of the participants. Researchers determined that study participants who had their lazy eye successfully treated gave correct answers 64 percent of the time compared to 59 percent of the time for the remainder of the lazy eye group. This was less than the 67 percent correct response rate in the normal vision group. A possible theory for the continued deficits in vision could be that the ?visual? part of the brain does not develop normally and leaves a lasting effect on the vision despite successful treatment.* Elise Ervin Staff Writer