Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a vision development disorder where one eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity—even with prescription glasses or contact lenses. It typically starts in childhood and is caused by the brain favoring one eye over the other. Over time, the weaker eye gets ignored by the brain, leading to poor vision. Early detection and treatment are critical to prevent long-term vision issues.
There are three main types of amblyopia. Strabismic amblyopia occurs when crossed or misaligned eyes cause the brain to ignore signals from one eye. Refractive amblyopia arises due to unequal refractive errors in each eye, like nearsightedness or farsightedness. Deprivation amblyopia happens when vision is blocked early in life, such as by a cataract. Each type affects how the brain and eyes work together, but all can lead to reduced vision if untreated.
Amblyopia can result from any condition that prevents the eyes from working together properly. Common causes include strabismus (eye misalignment), significant differences in prescription between eyes, or a physical blockage like a cataract. When one eye sends a clearer image to the brain, the other eye is ignored, leading to underdevelopment of its visual processing. Early screening can help identify and correct the cause before permanent damage occurs.
Symptoms of amblyopia may be subtle, especially in young children. Common signs include squinting, poor depth perception, tilting the head to see better, or the eyes not appearing to work together. Children might struggle with reading or hand-eye coordination. In some cases, the condition goes unnoticed until a vision screening reveals a problem. Regular eye exams during early childhood are essential for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for amblyopia focuses on improving vision in the weaker eye and helping the brain use both eyes together. The most common method involves wearing an eye patch over the stronger eye to encourage use of the weaker one. Other treatments include special eye drops, glasses or contact lenses, and vision therapy. The earlier the intervention, the better the outcomes—ideally before the age of 7, when the brain’s visual system is still developing.
Surgery is not typically the first line of treatment for amblyopia itself but may be necessary to address underlying causes. For instance, surgery can correct crossed eyes (strabismus) or remove cataracts that interfere with vision. These procedures help align the eyes or clear the visual pathway, making other amblyopia treatments more effective. However, surgery must be combined with therapies like patching to fully restore visual function in the affected eye.
