Lazy Eye (Amblyopia): What is it and what to do?

Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)

Overview

Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a common medical condition that occurs in children.

According to the Mayo Clinic, lazy eye is the leading cause of vision impairment in children of the developed world. Amblyopia occurs when one eye gets used more than the other, which leads to poor neuronal development in the underused eye. Eventually, your brain might ignore all signals coming from the lazy eye, precipitating an irreversible loss of vision.

Causes of lazy eye

There are several factors that contribute to amblyopia, including:

  • Constant strabismus (turning of one eye)
  • Family history of amblyopia
  • Trauma to one eye
  • Eye surgery
  • Corneal ulcer
  • Vision impairment (e.g., nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism)

Signs of lazy eye

As mentioned above, amblyopia becomes extremely difficult to treat after severe damage to the neuronal network of the affected eye.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of the early warning signs, which may include:

  • The tendency to bump into objects on one side
  • Dyssynchronous work of the eyes
  • Double vision
  • Poor depth perception

Treatment of lazy eye

Due to the variety of causes that lead to amblyopia, treatment primarily revolves around addressing the underlying condition. This may include:

  • Correcting vision impairment by wearing glasses or contact lens
  • Eye patch to stimulate the underused eye
  • Eye drops that temporarily stop the action of the muscles controlling the healthy eye
  • Surgical procedures to correct strabismus

Contact us by clicking on this link to learn more about the treatment options for lazy eye.

Takeaway message

Lazy eye is a common condition with devastating consequences that require immediate medical attention. Hopefully, this article managed to address this topic in a simple way. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comment section below.

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