Abstract:

The traditional treatment of amblyopia includes best optical correction, patching or atropine penalization of the fellow eye. Nevertheless, a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of amblyopia has been obtained based on a much deeper understanding of experimental animal model of amblyopia, electrophysiology and neurobiochemistry. Activating the visual plasticity after the end of the sensitive or critical period of visual development has been proved to be feasible. Thus, a variety of new therapies, such as, perceptual learning, video gaming, dichoptic training, transcranial magnetic stimulation have been applied to treat amblyopia in children and adults. All these new therapies, collectively called behavioral treatment, serve restoring cortical plasticity and reducing interocular suppression as a strategy for the reinstatement of visual functions in amblyopic patients.(Int Rev Ophthalmol,  2017,  41:    136-140)