Amblyopia, or lazy eye, occurs when one eye becomes weaker than the other during infancy or childhood. The brain favors the better eye and allows the weak eye to get worse over time. Early diagnosis is important because treatment is more effective when started early. Treatments include an eye patch, glasses, eye drops, and surgery.
What are the Symptoms of Lazy Eye?
- Difficulty in defining the distance or proximity of objects (problem with depth perception).
- Blink at frequent intervals to see objects clearly.
- Frequent rubbing of the eyes.
- Difficulty performing tasks that require coordination of hands and eyes.
- Do not turn the head to one side or tilt it forward while looking at the focused object.
- Don’t be afraid to look closer.
- Do not have distraction problems.
- Headache.
- Double vision.
Lazy Eye Treatment Methods
Lazy eye treatment is much more effective if started early, when the connections between the eye and the brain are still under development. Strategies focus on getting the child’s brain to use the weak eye. Options include:
Eye patches for children: Your child can wear a good eye patch for at least a few hours a day. This effective treatment can take months or even years. The patch forces the brain to use images from the weaker eye and eventually makes that eye stronger.
Glasses are also a common amblyopia treatment. They can help amblyopia by improving nearsightedness, farsightedness, and averted eye.
Eye drops: In mild cases, your provider may recommend eye drops (atropine) to temporarily blur vision in the better eye. The purpose is the same as the patch, it forces the brain to use the weaker eye.
Surgery: An operation for amblyopia is rare. Your healthcare provider may recommend surgery to correct certain causes of amblyopia, such as cataracts.