Amblyopia, or Mac Cusick Kaufman syndrome, is a persistent decrease in vision. This is not associated with organic violations of the analyzer and does not lend itself to optical correction. In this article, we consider the disease in more detail.
Symptoms of Kaufman syndrome
The course of this syndrome may be asymptomatic or the inability to stably fix the gaze is noted. Also, the perception of color is disturbed, there are problems with orientation in space. In general, visual acuity decreases. Diagnosis of the disease includes establishing visual acuity and color perception. Doctors also examine the fundus, perform tonometry, and so on. Treatment of the syndrome is aimed at eliminating the causes that cause its development. In this case, surgical or conservative treatment is possible. More information about the options for diagnosing Kaufman syndrome, as well as treatment methods will be discussed below.
More about the disease
This pathology is also called the syndrome of the "dull" or, in other words, the "lazy" eye, which is characterized by inaction, as well as the lack of participation in the process of vision. In ophthalmology, this disease is considered as one of the main causes of unilateral deterioration of a person's vision.
The cause of Kaufman's syndrome is intrauterine and subsequent retardation of development and growth.
Around the world, about two percent of the population suffers from this pathology. The disease is a disease mainly of childhood. It is for this reason that the need for its early identification and correction gains such an important aspect.
Diagnosis of the syndrome
To identify Kaufman syndrome, an ophthalmic examination of the patient is required. As part of the initial eye examination, the ophthalmologist turns his attention, first of all, to the eyelids, and, in addition, to the palpebral fissure. In addition, the position of the eyeball should also be taken into account and the reaction of the pupils to light should be determined. The overall picture of the state of vision can be obtained through ophthalmological tests:
- A sharpness test is carried out without correction, as well as against its background.
- Color testing is in progress.
- Perimetry, which is a refraction test, is performed.
Depending on the overall decrease in visual acuity in a patient, the severity of Kaufman's syndrome is determined. Diagnosis should be timely.
To examine the structures of the eye, ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy are performed, in addition, the bottom of the visual organ is examined using a Goldman lens. In order to establish the transparency of the refracting media, which are the lens and the vitreous, use eye examination in transmitted light. Against the background of the opacity of the media, their condition requires investigation with an ultrasound examination of the eye.
Among biometric research options, the most important role is played by the establishment of the strabismus angle according to Hirschberg along with the measurement of this indicator at the synaptophore. In order to exclude the refractive, as well as the anisometropic type of amblyopia, such studies of refraction as performing skascoscopy and refractometry are prescribed. As part of a comprehensive examination of patients suffering from this disease, tonometry or electroretinography can be included. If necessary, with Kaufman's syndrome, a neurologist should be consulted.
Receptions and treatment options
Only an early, individually selected, in addition, persistent treatment of the syndrome can give positive results. Correction is most preferably performed at the age of six to seven years. In children who are older than eleven to twelve years old, Kaufman syndrome is practically untreatable.
The success of the ophthalmic correction of pathology is directly related to the elimination of its causes. So, with the obscuration type of amblyopia, the following treatment methods are required:
- Cataract removal.
- Surgical intervention to correct ptosis.
- The implementation of absorbable treatment.
- Perform vitrectomy with hemophthalmia.
Surgical correction
In situations of the dysbinocular type of amblyopia, surgical strabismus correction is performed. Therapy of a refractive or anisometropic form of the disease is carried out by conservative methods. At the very beginning, as a rule, optimal vision correction is prescribed. At the same time, a careful selection of glasses and lenses is performed. Against the background of anisometropia, laser correction is performed.
Pleoptics
After about three weeks, they begin pleoptic treatment, which aims to eliminate the dominant role of a better seeing visual organ. At the same time, activation of the function of the amblyopic eye is also important. For the treatment of Kaufman's syndrome, active, in addition, passive pleoptics is used.
Passive involves gluing and occlusion of the lead eye. The active type in turn combines occlusion of the leading visual organ with retinal stimulation of the defective eye. Stimulation is carried out by means of light as well as electrical impulses. Special computer programs are also used.
Hardware Methods
Among hardware techniques, the most common practice for this disease was training at Amblyokor, as well as the following treatment methods:
- Perform laser stimulation.
- The implementation of photostimulation and electrical stimulation.
- Conducting electromagnetic stimulation.
- Vibration stimulation along with reflexostimulation.
- Various computer types of stimulation.
Pleoptic courses are required to be repeated three to four times a year. In young children, who are no more than four years old, treatment is carried out with the help of penalization, which is a targeted deterioration in the vision of the dominant organ due to the appointment of hypercorrection. Atropine solution may also be prescribed. In this situation, the visual acuity of the leading eye is significantly reduced, which automatically causes the activation of the underdeveloped organ. With this syndrome, physiotherapy methods are especially effective. Therefore, treatment options such as reflexology, along with vibration massages and drug electrophoresis, are particularly suitable.
Vision restoration
After the pleoptic stage of therapy, they usually proceed to the restoration of binocular vision. For this, orthoptic treatment is used. Performing this stage is advisable when achieving the same visual acuity in both eyes. In this case, the age of the child should not be younger than four years. Usually, for this purpose, a device is used - a synoptophore, in the eyepieces of which the patient manages to see separate parts of the whole picture, they need to be visually combined into one image.
Treatment of Kaufman's syndrome is carried out until the appearance of approximately the same degree of severity in both visual organs. Sedatives can also be prescribed to patients, and psychotherapy will not be superfluous.