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Amblyopia

Last reviewed: 3 Dec 2025
Last updated: 31 Dec 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • asymptomatic
  • subnormal visual acuity for age in one or both eyes
  • failure to ''fix and follow'' in infants
  • abnormal red reflex
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • asymmetric corneal light reflex
  • unequal behavioral response to alternate eye occlusion
  • abnormal cover/uncover testing
  • blurred vision
  • eye strain
  • congenital nystagmus
  • abnormal pupil exam
  • abnormal external eye exam
Full details

Risk factors

  • age <9 years
  • strabismus
  • high (uncorrected) refractive errors
  • media opacity
  • severe ptosis or prolonged occlusion of one or both eyes
  • prematurity
  • family history of amblyopia or strabismus
  • developmental delay
  • structural abnormality of the retina or vitreous
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • binocular red reflex test (Brückner test)
  • visual acuity tests (monocular)
  • stereopsis/binocular vision testing
  • assessment of fixation, ocular alignment and ocular motility
  • anterior segment exam using a slit lamp
  • dilated fundoscopy
  • cycloplegic retinoscopy
Full details

Emerging tests

  • visual evoked potentials (VEPs)

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

without form-deprivation amblyopia

form-deprivation amblyopia

refractory amblyopia

Contributors

Authors

Irene Gottlob, MD

Professor of Ophthalmology

Cooper University Health Care

Cooper Medical School

Rowan University

Glassboro

NJ

Disclosures

IG declares that she has no competing interests. IG is an author of references cited in this topic.

Gail Maconachie, PhD, BMedSci

Lecturer

School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery,

Faculty of Health

University of Sheffield

UK

Disclosures

GM declares that she has no competing interests. GM is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Eleni Papageorgiou, MD, PhD

Consultant in Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus and Neuro-Ophthalmology

Department of Ophthalmology

University Hospital of Larissa

Larissa

Greece

Declarações

EP declares that she has no competing interests.

Agradecimentos

Dr Irene Gottlob, Dr Gail Maconachie, and Dr Eleni Papageorgiou would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Tina Rutar, the previous contributor to this topic.

Declarações

TR declared that she had no competing interests.

Revisores

Mary C. Whitman, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Boston Children’s Hospital

Harvard Medical School

Boston

MA

Declarações

MCW declares that she has no competing interests.

Nathan Cheung, OD, FAAO

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Duke University

Durham

NC

Declarações

NC declares that he has no competing interests.

Michael Clarke, FRCS, FCOphth

Reader in Ophthalmology

Newcastle University

Newcastle

UK

Declarações

MC has received NHS research grants of more than 6 figures USD. MC is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Créditos aos pareceristas

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Referências

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Principais artigos

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Amblyopia PPP 2022 - updated 2024. Dec 2022 [internet publication].Texto completo

Hutchinson AK, Morse CL, Hercinovic A, et al. Pediatric eye evaluations preferred practice pattern. Ophthalmology. 2023 Mar;130(3):P222-70.Texto completo  Resumo

US Preventive Services Task Force; Grossman DC, Curry SJ, Owens DK, et al. Vision screening in children ages 6 months to 5 years: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2017 Sep 5;318(9):836-44.Texto completo  Resumo

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Pediatric ophthalmology/strabismus summary benchmarks - 2024. Dec 2024 [internet publication].Texto completo

Artigos de referência

Uma lista completa das fontes referenciadas neste tópico está disponível para os usuários com acesso total ao BMJ Best Practice.
  • Amblyopia images
  • Diagnósticos diferenciais

    • Refractive error with no amblyopia
    • Functional visual impairment
    • Central nervous system pathology affecting visual pathways
    Mais Diagnósticos diferenciais
  • Diretrizes

    • Amblyopia preferred practice pattern​​
    • Pediatric ophthalmology/strabismus summary benchmarks
    Mais Diretrizes
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