Amblyopia in a Young Child With an Atypical Response to Treatment: A Case Report

Amblyopia is a prevalent and treatable cause of visual impairment in children, often responding well to timely intervention. Clinicians should investigate potential subtle structural abnormalities when expected improvements are not achieved. We present the case of a three-year-old blonde male with decreased vision and high astigmatism, identified during routine screening. Initial visual gains with spectacle correction suggested isometropic amblyopia; however, limited improvement over time led to further investigation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed abnormal foveal contour, and light fundus pigmentation raised suspicion of ocular albinism (OA), a diagnosis later confirmed by identifying pathogenic variants in the <i>TYR</i> gene. This case highlights the value of OCT and genetic testing in diagnosing OA, allowing clinicians to provide targeted support for improved visual function and quality of life.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-02-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79257
Primary Topic
Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Amblyopia in a Young Child With an Atypical Response to Treatment: A Case Report

Alejandro M Perez, Ta Chen Chang, Carlos E. Mendoza‐Santiesteban
Cureus
Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies
article

Amblyopia in a Young Child With an Atypical Response to Treatment: A Case Report

Alejandro M Perez, Ta Chen Chang, Carlos E. Mendoza‐Santiesteban
article en

Abstract

Amblyopia is a prevalent and treatable cause of visual impairment in children, often responding well to timely intervention. Clinicians should investigate potential subtle structural abnormalities when expected improvements are not achieved. We present the case of a three-year-old blonde male with decreased vision and high astigmatism, identified during routine screening. Initial visual gains with spectacle correction suggested isometropic amblyopia; however, limited improvement over time led to further investigation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed abnormal foveal contour, and light fundus pigmentation raised suspicion of ocular albinism (OA), a diagnosis later confirmed by identifying pathogenic variants in the <i>TYR</i> gene. This case highlights the value of OCT and genetic testing in diagnosing OA, allowing clinicians to provide targeted support for improved visual function and quality of life.

CureusVol. 17(2)
University of Miami Health System (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 95%
Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.