Self-correcting amblyopia: case report

Aim: To report an interesting case of amblyopia in a child with a previous history of constant left strabismus and amblyopia treated with occlusion, who subsequently sustained an injury to the  nonamblyopic eye. Methods: The case is presented of a 12-year-old child who injured his fixing right eye after falling from a chair onto the corner of a computer table. Ophthalmic and orthoptic findings are documented. Results: The child presented to the accident and emergency department, after transfer from another Trust, with an acute history of right eye penetrating injury. Examination revealed a superior corneal laceration which required surgical repair. Seven months after a successful corneal repair the patient was noted to be turning his head to the right when reading. Orthoptic examination revealed a change in fixation and an increase in visual acuity in the previously amblyopic eye from 6/12 to 6/6 þ 2 Snellen. Conclusions: The period of improvement of vision from amblyopia can extend beyond what was previously thought to be the limit for positive change. Despite previous treatment of amblyopia a spontaneous increase in visual acuity occurred and was maintained even when acuity was restored in the nonamblyopic eye.