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Amblyopia (sometimes called lazy eye) is not as much a disease of the eye but rather a brain
disorder that is caused when the part of the brain processing information from one eye fails
to develop normally.

There are two basic types of amblyopia, one caused by poor focus and the other caused by
misalignment of the two eyes. Without treatment, a child’s motor skills, social interactions,
self-image, and school performance are affected by amblyopia. Treatment for amblyopia must
begin early in life, before the brain matures and it is no longer possible to regain lost vision.
In this study, they will test and compare three measures of visual function in patients with
the two basic types of amblyopia as well as in healthy volunteers. The measures to be tested
include contrast sensitivity (like vision on a foggy day), stereoacuity (3-D vision or depth
perception), and ocular dominance (which eye is favored by the brain).

Testing will be conducted not just in straight-ahead gaze but also in the peripheral visual
field (side vision). They hypothesize that they will discover that the two types of amblyopia
have important differences in their responses and that this information will one day allow
them to customize treatment to give the best outcome in each type of amblyopia.

A $65,000 check was presented to Emily Wiecek, O.D., Ph.D., from Boston
Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts by Sir Knights Stuart Drost, Northeastern
Department Commander; and Mark Kay, Grand Commander of Mass/RI; also with
Dr. Wiecek is David G. Hunter, M.D., Ph.D., mentor on this research project

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