Amblyopia is a term that is used to describe a condition where an individual’s eyesight is poor or impaired, despite the fact that there is no structural damage to the eye. This condition is also commonly referred to as “lazy eye”. Amblyopia affects approximately 2-3% of the population and is most commonly diagnosed in children.
Definitions
Amblyopia is defined as a condition where an individual’s eyesight is poor or impaired, despite there being no structural damage to the eye. This condition is caused by a lack of use of one eye, which leads to a decrease in the brain’s ability to process visual information from that eye. Amblyopia can be caused by a number of factors, including strabismus (a misalignment of the eyes), anisometropia (a difference in the refractive error between the two eyes), and deprivation (a lack of visual stimulation during critical periods of development).
Origin
The term “amblyopia” comes from the Greek words “amblys”, which means “dull” or “dim”, and “ops”, which means “eye”. The condition was first described in the medical literature in the 18th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, amblyopia is defined as “a condition of poor vision in an eye that is otherwise physically normal, typically caused by a disturbance of the visual processing centers in the brain during early childhood”.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines amblyopia as “a condition in which one eye is used less than the other, resulting in poor vision in that eye”.
Associations
Amblyopia is commonly associated with other eye conditions, such as strabismus, anisometropia, and cataracts. It is also associated with developmental delays and learning disabilities.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for amblyopia include lazy eye, dull eye, and dim eye.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms for amblyopia, as it is a specific condition with no direct opposite.
The same root words
Other words that share the same root words as amblyopia include amblygonite (a mineral), amblystoma (a genus of salamanders), and amblyrhynchus (a genus of marine iguanas).
Example Sentences
- My son was diagnosed with amblyopia when he was three years old.
- The optometrist recommended patching my daughter’s good eye to treat her amblyopia.
- Amblyopia can be caused by a number of different factors, including strabismus and anisometropia.