Amblyopia

/ˌæmbliˈoʊpiə/ noun

Definition

A condition where one or both eyes have reduced vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, often caused by the brain not developing proper connection with one eye during childhood.

Etymology

From Greek 'amblys' (blunt, dull) + 'opia' (vision, condition of seeing). Medical Latin adopted this term in the 18th century to describe this specific vision impairment, commonly known as 'lazy eye' in English.

Kelly Says

Your brain is basically choosing favorites with your eyes, and if that happens early enough, the 'lazy' eye's neural pathways never develop properly—which is why catching it before age six or seven makes all the difference.

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