Is amblyopia the same as myopia?

Generally speaking, amblyopia is different from myopia; the two conditions have distinct causes, impacts, and correction methods. If there are any concerns, it is recommended to seek medical consultation early. The specific analysis is as follows:

Myopia is often caused by abnormal eye development, resulting in parallel light rays focusing in front of the retina. It is a type of refractive error commonly seen in individuals with poor visual habits or a family history of myopia, and clear vision can usually be achieved through refraction testing and wearing corrective lenses. Amblyopia, on the other hand, occurs during the critical period of visual development when insufficient light stimulation leads to delayed visual function development. It is often associated with strabismus, anisometropia, congenital cataracts, and other factors. Simply wearing glasses cannot improve vision in cases of amblyopia.

Patients with myopia mainly experience blurred distance vision while near vision remains normal, and their vision can typically return to normal with properly prescribed glasses. In contrast, patients with amblyopia have poor vision both at near and far distances. Even with corrective lenses, their visual acuity often fails to reach the normal level for their age group. If not treated promptly during childhood, improvement becomes extremely difficult in adulthood, potentially affecting lifelong visual quality.

When vision abnormalities are detected, timely professional examination at a qualified ophthalmology clinic is essential to accurately differentiate between amblyopia and myopia, avoiding misdiagnosis and delaying intervention.