What is another medical term for the condition commonly called 'lazy eye'?

• A. Amblyopia
• B. Nystagmus
• C. Glaucoma
• D. Cataract

Answer: (A)

Amblyopia is the medical term for what’s commonly called lazy eye. It describes a reduction in vision in one eye that develops during early life because the brain starts to favor the other eye, so the vision pathways in the weaker eye don’t develop properly. This is different from other eye conditions: nystagmus is involuntary, jerky eye movements; glaucoma involves damage to the optic nerve usually from high eye pressure; cataract is clouding of the lens. The term amblyopia fits because the issue is a decline in visual acuity due to developmental suppression of the weaker eye, not a movement problem, pressure issue, or lens opacity. Treatments focus on stimulating the weaker eye—like patching the stronger eye, correcting refractive errors, or addressing any misalignment—to encourage normal visual development.