Amblyopia, also called “lazy eye,” refers to reduced vision due to abnormal eye development. Amblyopia typically affects only one eye, but it can affect both. Parents often realize their child has the condition when they notice that he or she has wandering eyes, a drooping eyelid, needs to tilt his or her head to one side to see properly. Amblyopia, if caught early in childhood, can be treated rather easily, but the older a child becomes, the harder it is to correct.

In children with amblyopia, the nerve pathways between one eye and the brain are not stimulated properly. This results in the brain taking signals only from the unaffected eye and ignoring the affected eye.

As a result, the weaker, “lazy” eye wanders, or moves inward and outward. The lack of coordination between the healthy eye and the weaker one may cause a child to squint, tilt his or her head to one side, or close one eye to see properly. In addition, the child may experience headaches, blurry vision, and lack depth perception.

Causes

The most common cause of amblyopia is strabismus, a condition that occurs when the muscles that control eye coordination and positioning do not work together. This causes the eyes to focus on separate objects.

Abnormal retinas or cataracts can also cause amblyopia, as can differences in the size or shape of the eye. Tumors in the eye are another cause for amblyopia, but these are relatively rare.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Treatment for amblyopia is most effective during childhood. By the time a child is 8 to 10 years old, the structure and components of the eye are completely developed.

To treat the condition, the cause of a child’s amblyopia has to be diagnosed. An eye exam and details about the child’s medical history usually provide enough information to pinpoint the exact cause.

Once the cause is determined a doctor will concentrate on making the weaker eye work properly. He or she may put a patch over the stronger eye to force the body to use the weaker one.

Depending on a child’s age and/or the severity of his or her condition, eye patches may need to be worn for only a few hours each day or for the whole day. Unlike an older child whose eyes may be fully develop, the eyes of younger children have not finished developing, so they typically do not need to wear an eye patch as long because the eye is able to correct itself quicker.

If the child experiences any rashes, which can sometimes spring up due to the adhesive used in eye patches, applying moisturizers or ointments to the area should help.

As an alternative treatment, special glasses and atropine eye drops can be used to blur the vision in the stronger eye so the brain concentrates on getting image signals from the weaker eye. This way, the doctor is making the “lazy” eye active. Possible side effects of atropine include light sensitivity, a stinging in the eye, and an irregular heartbeat.

Treatment continues until the weaker eye’s vision becomes normal. This could take several weeks or a few years, depending on the cause and type of amblyopia.

Educating Children

If a doctor recommends an eye patch for a child, it is important for parents to talk to their children and be aware of their feelings. The emotions of children can change quickly, and a child may have no problem wearing a patch one day and become very conscious of their appearance the next. If the child is self-conscious about wearing an eye patch, it might be possible to make to make it a game.

It is also important to make sure the child understands the necessity of wearing protective glasses, face shields, or eye guards during any sports activities to avoid further injury to the eye.