Amblyopia is when one eye is weaker than the other. Some people call this "lazy eye." It causes the brain to take in images from the stronger eye and ignore images from the weaker eye. This leads to poor vision in the weaker eye. It most often affects only one eye. Children can develop the problem between birth and about age 7.
Sometimes amblyopia occurs because the eyes don't focus on the same object. For example, one eye may point straight while the other looks in another direction. This condition is called strabismus. It sends two different images to the brain. In a young child with strabismus, the brain chooses to receive the images from only one eye.
Amblyopia can sometimes be treated if it is caught at a young age. Your doctor may want your child to wear a patch over the stronger eye. This helps develop the vision in the weaker eye. Or your doctor may suggest glasses or eyedrops to blur the vision in the good eye.
Sometimes surgery is needed to fix both problems.
Amblyopia, commonly called "lazy eye," is an eye condition in which one eye is not used enough for the visual system in the brain to develop properly. If one eye is weak, the brain ignores the images from it and uses only the images from the stronger eye, leading to poor vision in the weak eye.
Amblyopia usually affects only one eye, but it may occur in both eyes. Children can develop amblyopia between birth and about 7 years of age.
Amblyopia can be hard to detect. A child with amblyopia may have one eye that wanders or does not move with the other eye.
Amblyopia may develop if a child is much more nearsighted or farsighted in one eye than in the other. Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness in both eyes may lead to amblyopia. Cloudiness in the black center of the eye or a droopy upper eyelid also can lead to amblyopia.
Normal vision develops with regular, equal use of the eyes. Treatment for amblyopia includes patching the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to develop better vision. Early treatment can usually reverse the condition.
In most cases, amblyopia does not cause symptoms. But your child may:
For amblyopia to be treated, your child must use the weak eye. This will force the eye to get stronger. Over time this corrects the vision in the weak eye.
Your doctor may suggest:
Your child may have to wear the patch or glasses most of the day or for just part of each day. Treatment may last for a few weeks or months. Severe cases may take longer.
If another problem is causing the amblyopia, such as a cataract, it also needs to be treated.
Treatment is best started before age 6 and should begin before your child's vision has fully developed, around age 9 or 10.
After treatment ends, be sure to set up follow-up eye exams for your child. Amblyopia can return even after successful treatment.
Your child's doctor will do an eye exam. If the exam shows that your child has poor vision in one eye, the doctor may diagnose amblyopia after ruling out other causes.
To help make the diagnosis, the doctor will ask about symptoms, any family members who have had vision problems, other possible risk factors such as low birth weight, and whether your child has trouble reading, seeing the board in school, or watching TV.
Experts recommend that children have regular eye exams. Vision tests may also be done to look for amblyopia. If you have concerns about your child's eyes or vision, call your child's doctor, or take your child to an eye doctor.
Help your child follow directions for wearing an eye patch or glasses or using eyedrops. Your doctor will give you directions. Give your child extra love and support during treatment. They may be teased at school. Explain the treatment to your child's teachers. They can help support your child.
Any condition that prevents your child's eyes from forming a clear, focused image or that prevents the normal use of one or both eyes can cause amblyopia. It may happen when:
Amblyopia is a childhood problem that happens when one eye is weaker than the other. The brain chooses to take in images from the stronger eye and ignore images from the weaker eye. This means that your child uses the strong eye more than the weak eye. If the weak eye doesn't have to work, it isn't able to develop good vision. This leads to poor vision in the weaker eye.
Amblyopia usually affects only one eye.
The problem starts between birth and about age 7. Your child may not even know that they are using only one eye. Ignoring the images from the weak eye is an automatic response. Your child has no control over it.
Early treatment usually can reverse amblyopia. The younger your child is when treatment starts, the more likely your child is to have good vision.
Amblyopia is sometimes called "lazy eye."
By giving support and reassurance, you can help your child comply with the patching treatment.
Amblyopia is commonly called "lazy eye." Tell your child that despite the nickname, an eye with amblyopia is not actually lazy and that your child has not done anything wrong. A child with amblyopia may not even know that they are using only one eye.
Other children might make fun of a child who has to wear a patch over one eye. Comfort your child. And remind your child why it is important to keep the patch on.
It may be possible to wear the patch only at home. Then your child can avoid any hurtful comments or teasing that may happen because of the patch.
Consider giving rewards when your child wears the patch without complaints or difficulties. You can use a phone app or a calendar to show your child's progress toward the reward.
Offer suggestions to family, friends, and classmates about ways they can help make the treatment successful.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
Treatment sounds simple, but using an eye patch or glasses may bother your child. To help your child:
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