Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a condition where the brain favors one eye over the other, causing the weaker eye to become lazy and vision to deteriorate in that eye.

 

Differences in image clarity: If one eye has clearer vision than the other, the brain prefers using the clearer eye, causing the weaker eye to become lazy.

Strabismus: When the eyes do not align properly, the brain cannot receive clear images from both eyes and therefore ignores one eye.

Eye diseases: Conditions such as cataracts, corneal problems, or other eye diseases can contribute to amblyopia.

 

In many cases, amblyopia has no noticeable symptoms and may go undetected until adulthood. However, some signs may include:

 

Blurred vision in one eye: This symptom is often not noticed in children under 3 years old as they cannot articulate that their vision is weaker in one eye.

Covering one eye: The child may unconsciously cover one eye to avoid double vision.

Tilting the head: The child may tilt their head to see more clearly with one eye.

Difficulty with depth perception: The child may have trouble judging distances.

 

Amblyopia is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. The eye doctor will use various tests such as covering one eye, checking the light reflection in the pupil, and assessing the field of vision to make an accurate diagnosis.

 

Treatment for amblyopia depends on various factors, including the child's age, the cause of amblyopia, and its severity. Some treatment options include:

 

Glasses: To correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Patching the stronger eye: By covering the stronger eye, the brain is forced to use the weaker eye and gradually strengthen it.

Eye drops: To blur the vision in the stronger eye.

Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct underlying eye problems such as cataracts or strabismus.

 

Early detection and treatment of amblyopia are crucial because if left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss in the affected eye. The best time to treat amblyopia is during childhood when the brain is more adaptable. If you are concerned about your child having amblyopia, consult an ophthalmologist.