Making eye patch treatment for amblyopia more effective for your child
Patching treatment for amblyopia will be more effective if your child's weak eye has to work harder while the normal eye is patched. Games and activities that require visual acuity and eye-hand coordination work well.
- Start with simple activities.
At first, your child's coordination may not be good because the brain is still learning how to use the weaker eye. Easy activities will help build your child's confidence.
- Use arts and crafts.
Coloring books, paint books, and crafts such as cutting and pasting are all fun activities that require good eye-hand coordination.
- Move on to active games.
Tossing beanbags or small balls (such as ping-pong balls) into buckets or other containers can be a fun and challenging activity. Keep in mind that with one eye patched, your child's depth perception will be reduced, and your child may have some difficulty with toss games.
- Spend time reading and looking at books with your child.
Picture books and reading require close visual attention. Even if your child is not reading yet, looking at the pictures in children's books is a good way to make the weak eye work during patching. Have your child look at the details of the pictures. If your child is learning to read, help them work through the text.
Supporting your child during eye patch treatment for amblyopia
By giving support and reassurance, you can help your child comply with the patching treatment.
- Reassure your child.
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.
- Give comfort and support.
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.
- Schedule the times when your child will wear the patch.
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.
- Reward your child.
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.
- Encourage support from others.
Offer suggestions to family, friends, and classmates about ways they can help make the treatment successful.
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