Lazy Eye

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• QHow is a lazy eye (amblyopia) treated?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  To correct amblyopia, a child must be made to use the weak eye. This is usually done by covering or blurring the strong eye, often for weeks or months.

  Even after vision has been restored in the weak eye, part-time patching may be required over a period of years to maintain the improvement.

  Eyeglasses may be prescribed to correct errors in focusing. If glasses alone do not improve vision, then patching is necessary.

  Amblyopia may also be treated by blurring the vision in the good eye with special eyedrops or lenses to force the child to use the amblyopic eye.

  Amblyopia is usually treated before surgery to correct misaligned eyes, and patching or blurring with eyedrops are often continued after surgery as well.

  If your ophthalmologist finds a cataract or other abnormality, surgery may be required to correct the problem. An intraocular lens may be implanted. After surgery, eyeglasses or contact lenses can be used to restore focusing while patching improves vision.

  Amblyopia cannot usually be cured by treating the cause alone. The weaker eye must be made stronger in order to see normally. Prescribing eyeglasses or performing surgery can correct the cause of amblyopia, but your ophthalmologist must also treat the amblyopia itself.

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• QWhat is a lazy eye (amblyopia)?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  Amblyopia is a condition that affects sight. You may have heard of it referred to as "lazy eye." When communication between the brain and one of the eyes doesn't fully develop, the brain may begin ignoring that eye. It may even move away from its central position (although not everyone with the condition shows this physical sign of lazy eye). The neglected eye will continue to see poorly. Sight will be blurred.

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• QWhat does a contact lens do for an amblyopic eye?

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  A Dr. Michael X. Repka , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart

  A contact lens is often used in the amblyopic eye of a patient when that eye has a large refractive error and the fellow eye has minimal refractive error. In theory, such a patient may be better treated with a contact lens, but that remains to be proven.

  Some physicians feel that correcting the eye may prevent the development of a misalignment, so that is often the reason for persisting in using the contact lens. However, we do not know if that helps. If you experience some benefit with the lens, I would continue; if not, stop. Whatever you do, you should wear protective spectacle lenses at all times for the good eye.

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• QHow is amblyopia diagnosed?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  It is not easy to recognize amblyopia. A child may not be aware of having one strong eye and one weak eye. Unless the child has a misaligned eye or other obvious abnormality, there is often no way for parents to tell that something is wrong.
  Amblyopia is detected by finding a difference in vision between the two eyes or poor vision in both eyes. Since it is difficult to measure vision in young children, your ophthalmologist often estimates visual acuity by watching how well a baby follows objects with one eye when the other eye is covered.
  Using a variety of tests, the ophthalmologist observes the reactions of the baby when one eye is covered. If one eye is amblyopic and the good eye is covered, the baby may attempt to look around the patch, try to pull it off or cry.
  Poor vision in one eye does not always mean that a child has amblyopia. Vision can often be improved by prescribing eyeglasses for a child.
  Your ophthalmologist will also carefully examine the interior of the eye to see if other eye diseases may be causing decreased vision. These diseases include:

  • Cataracts
  • Inflammations
  • Tumors
  • Other disorders of the inner eye
• QWhat causes amblyopia?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  There are a number of causes associated with amblyopia, or lazy eye. In fact, almost any vision development condition can cause it. Common causes include strabismus, or imbalanced eye position. You'll notice strabismus if the eyes cross or if both eyes turn outward. Someone may also develop amblyopia if one eye is more farsighted or nearsighted than its counterpart. More serious conditions, such as cataracts or even tumors, have also been known to result in amblyopia.

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• QWhy should amblyopia be treated?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  If amblyopia is not treated, several problems may occur:

  • The amblyopic eye may develop a serious and permanent visual defect;
  • Depth perception (seeing in three dimensions) may be lost;
  • If the good eye becomes diseased or injured, a lifetime of poor vision may be the result.

  Your ophthalmologist can give you instructions on how to treat amblyopia and can help you and your child carry out this treatment.
  Children do not like to have their good eye patched or blurred. As a parent, however, you should help your child to do what is best for him or her.
  Your interest, involvement and persistence will be necessary for successful treatment.
• QWhat are the symptoms of amblyopia?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  If you experience poor vision, difficulty in perceiving depth, or an eye that moves away from its typical position, you might be showing symptoms of amblyopia. If you are concerned that your child has developed amblyopia and your child can't communicate visual problems to you, look for a tendency to cover one eye or squint when trying to focus. You may also notice that the eyes don't move together or do not appear to be looking in the same direction. Yet, not everyone who suffers from amblyopia will show symptoms.

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• QHow does amblyopia affect the body?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  Amblyopia is a condition that affects vision, a sense that develops as you grow. During vision development, your sight can be affected by a number of factors that keep your brain and eyes from communicating properly. If one of these factors interferes with the development of one eye differently than the other, it may trigger your brain to ignore the signal it's receiving from the affected eye. Ignoring that eye can become a habit for your brain, leading to amblyopia.

• QWhat increases my risk for amblyopia?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is believed to run in families. If you have it, your children are more likely to have it as well. The eye condition is also more common in those born prematurely, those with other vision impairments, and those with developmental delays.

• QShould I talk to my doctor about my amblyopia symptoms?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  If you or your child shows symptoms of amblyopia consult an optometrist. Diagnosis is important as amblyopia can lead to poor vision or even vision loss. There are treatment options available, so early diagnosis is beneficial. Anyone may benefit from the current treatments, but the best results are seen when treatment starts at an early age.