Do you or someone you know have a lazy eye? Are you a parent or guardian seeking information about amblyopia? Has your child been advised to wear an eye patch or referred for surgery to align their eyes?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, keep reading to discover more about the causes and treatment options for amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye.
What is amblyopia (i.e. lazy eye) and how does it develop?
Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is often diagnosed when an otherwise healthy eye cannot be corrected to 20/20 vision with glasses or contact lenses.
There are several ways amblyopia can develop, typically due to the brain not receiving a clear visual signal during the critical period of visual development. Common causes include:
A high uncorrected prescription in one or both eyes.
A significant difference in prescription between the two eyes.
A physical obstruction blocking clear vision, such as a cataract or drooping eyelid.
A misalignment where one eye turns inward, outward, upward, or downward (strabismus).
Lazy eye can be easily missed by parents
Our visual system is amazing, and the brain has a remarkable ability to compensate for issues by finding ways to work around them.
When our eyes are misaligned and pointing in different directions, we would normally see double. To eliminate this, the brain starts ignoring one of the images, or suppressing it, over time.
For instance, if a child has clear vision in one eye but blurry vision in the other, the brain will simply shut off or suppress the blurry image, rather than trying to merge two mismatched images.
This is why it’s common for us to diagnose amblyopia during a child’s first eye exam, often catching parents by surprise.
Amblyopia treatment options
Amblyopia treatments depend on the cause of the condition, the child's age, and its severity.
In many cases, studies have shown that glasses alone can significantly improve vision. However, when glasses aren't enough, doctors may recommend patching or blurring the "good eye" to give the amblyopic eye a chance to strengthen and rewire.
Understandably, many parents struggle to get their kids to wear an eye patch. Fortunately, most cases don't require long-term patching to see a big difference. Many forms of amblyopia can improve with just a couple of hours of patching a day, typically after school at home.
If patching is still a challenge, there are also eye drops available that can be used a few times a week at home, offering similar results.
Additionally, some types of amblyopia, especially those caused by strabismus, can benefit from vision therapy.
Is there an age when amblyopia can no longer be corrected?
Thanks to the brain's ability to adapt (neuroplasticity), we now know that amblyopia can often be successfully treated in children well into their teenage years.
However, it’s much easier to correct at a younger age, making it all the more important to ensure the entire family gets a yearly comprehensive eye exam.
Final thoughts on amblyopia
Early detection is key to the effective treatment and management of amblyopia. While most of our doctors typically see pediatric patients aged 7 and older, we also have pediatric eye specialists who are happy to care for children as young as 6 months old.
Interested in getting your child an eye exam?
Schedule an eye exam with one of our doctors of optometry today!
Give us a call or simply schedule online: Northlake Mall | Concord Mills | Biltmore Park | Asheville Mall
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