In a collaborative study between Queensland University and LVPEI, Archayeeta Rakshit, Debasmita Majhi, Ann L. Webber, and others assessed fine motor skills and reading proficiency in adults with amblyopia and/or strabismus and compare them with those with normal vision.
Amblyopia (lazy eye) is a condition that arises due to defects in the delivery of sensory information from the eye to the brain. This breakdown in the brain-eye connection causes the brain to rely more on the healthy eye, while the affected eye becomes neglected and impaired. Amblyopia manifests during childhood and the effects, if uncorrected, can persist into adulthood. Amblyopic children often develop strabismus (squint)—a condition where one or both eyes are misaligned, pointing inwards or outwards. But both conditions can also exist independently.
When either or both conditions persist into adulthood, it can have a profound impact on the person’s quality of life. Amblyopia and strabismus have been known to impair motor skills and reading ability. Not only can such impairments harm a person’s education and career prospects, but they can also result in social isolation and lower self-esteem. Understanding the magnitude of damage to fine motor skills and reading ability, especially in adults, is necessary to make an intervention. However, typical clinical assessments of amblyopia or strabismus are insufficient to evaluate effects on motor skills and reading comprehension. Consequently, the extent of the defects remains unclear.
In a new study published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Archayeeta Rakshit, Ann L. Webber, and others from Queensland University in collaboration with Drs. Debasmita Majhi and Vivek Warkad of LVPEI, assessed fine motor skills and reading proficiency in adults with amblyopia and/or strabismus, and how they compare to those with normal vision. The study included 23 adults with only amblyopia, 20 with only strabismus, 52 with both amblyopia and strabismus, and 19 adults with normal vision. Fine motor skills were assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2), which has multiple tests for each category of motor performance, such as manual dexterity. Reading proficiency was tested using the International Reading Speed Texts (IReST). The participants’ visual acuity (VA) and binocular function score (BVS), a measure of the ability to see with both eyes, was also recorded. Finally, the researchers assessed the impact of amblyopia and/or strabismus on the participants’ quality of life, self-esteem, and fears.
Participants with amblyopia, strabismus, or both performed poorly in all five tests for manual dexterity. Their overall BOT-2 scores were also ‘below average’ or ‘well-below average’ compared to those with normal vision. The reading speed of those with lazy eyes and/or squint was also significantly (37%) slower. Further analysis showed that 39% of variance in manual dexterity is due to differences in VA, BFS, and the presence of squint. Most participants reported that the inability to see with both eyes (low BFS) is their biggest hindrance. Meanwhile, strabismus was the predominant reason for low self-esteem. The study presents the functional and psychological effects of long-term amblyopia or strabismus, and how clinical assessments need to be updated to take these factors into account.
'Amblyopia and squint are often considered to be pediatric issues, especially for research. Our study found that the adverse effects of lazy eyes or squint on reading speed, dexterity, and self-esteem persists into adulthood,' noted Dr Debasmita Majhi, Consultant Ophthalmologist, LVPEI, and one of the authors of this paper. 'As clinicians, we must take this into our consideration and should treat these conditions in early childhood itself, as they have lifelong consequences.'
Citation
Rakshit, A., Majhi, D., Schmid, K. L., Warkad, V., Atchison, D. A., & Webber, A. L. (2024). Fine Motor Skills, Reading Speed, and Self-Reported Quality of Life in Adults With Amblyopia and/or Strabismus. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 65(13), 48. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.65.13.48
Photo credit: 'cross-eyed' Myupchar.com, CC BY 4.0
