Blue field entoptic phenomenon in amblyopia

Abstract

The blue field entoptic phenomenon allows the perception of leukocytes moving in the retinal capillaries of one's own retina. This phenomenon is not affected by media opacities provided that enough blue light reaches the retina. The phenomenon was investigated in 63 amblyopic patients to determine if the perception of the leukocytes in the amblyopic eye differs from that in the good eye. A difference in perception would provide a means of assessing amblyopic in eyes with opaque media. Ninety-four percent of the amblyopic eyes perceived less sharp particles, 83% perceived fewer particles and 60% perceived slower particles than in the good eyes. In 86% of the amblyopic eyes, the tails were shorter than in the good eyes or absent entirely. The degree of amblyopia correlated with the difference in the number of leukocytes observed in each eye. No differences in the perception of leukocytes were reported by 20 normal subjects.