Amblyopia: neural basis and therapeutic approaches

ABSTRACT Abnormalities in visual processing caused by visual deprivation or abnormal binocular interaction may induce amblyopia, which is characterized by reduced visual acuity. Occlusion therapy, the conventional treatment, requires special attention as occlusion of the fellow normal eye may reduce its visual acuity and impair binocular vision. Besides recovering visual acuity, some researchers have recommended restoration of stereoacuity and motor fusion and reverse suppression in order to prevent diplopia. Recent studies have documented that the amblyopic visual cortex has a normal complement of cells but reduced spatial resolution and a disordered topographical map. Changes occurring in the late sensitive period selectively impact the parvocellular pathway. Distinct morphophysiologic and psychophysical deficits may demand individualization of therapy, which might provide greater and longer-lasting residual plasticity in some children.RESUMO Anormalidades nos processamentos visuais causadas por priva ção visual ou interação binocular anormal podem gerar ambliopia, caracterizada por redução da acuidade visual. A terapia de oclusão (tratamento convencional) necessita de cuidados especiais, pois a oclusão do olho normal (não-amblíope) pode reduzir a acuidade visual do mesmo e prejudicar a visão binocular. Além de recuperar a acuidade visual, alguns pesquisadores alertam para a necessidade em potencial de se restaurar a estereoacuidade e a fusão motora, bem como ...

Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia - December 9, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Source Type: research