Amblyopia: literature review, definition, advances and treatment

Recent research on amblyopia has highlighted new concepts and a better understanding of this common vision-threatening clinical condition. The primary dysfunction within the amblyopic visual system occurs in the primary visual area or striate cortex (V1) area, and the amblyopic effect can be amplified in the higher areas of brain processing. Various simple and complex visual functions are affected in amblyopia, and significant clinical and functional differences exist in the patterns of visual loss among the clinically defined categories of amblyopia. Nevertheless, the substantial neural plasticity in the amblyopic brain beyond the “critical period” can potentially open the door for various treatments for amblyopia, even in teens and adults.