Lazy Eye (Amblyopia) - SP Medifort Hospital

Lazy Eye(amblyopia) Treatment

Lazy Eye(amblyopia) Treatment In South India

Lazy eye, medically called amblyopia, is a condition in which one eye has reduced vision because the brain and that eye aren’t working together properly. The weaker eye may sometimes drift inward or outward, but even when it looks normal, its vision can still be poor.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of Lazy Eye?

Signs and symptoms of lazy eye include:

Squinting, closing one eye, or tilting the head.
Poor depth perception.
One eye wanders inward or outward.
Abnormal results on vision screening tests.
Tilting the head.
Eyes that do not appear to work together.

What causes Lazy Eye?

Common causes of the lazy eye conditions include:

Refractive Differences Between Eyes: When one eye is much clearer than the other due to farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism, the brain favors the stronger eye. Over time, the weaker eye’s vision may lag, a condition called refractive or anisometropic amblyopia.
Strabismus (Muscle Imbalance): This occurs when the eyes are misaligned—one may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward. The brain receives two different images and suppresses the one from the misaligned eye to avoid double vision. Over time, this causes the weaker eye to develop poor vision, a condition called strabismic amblyopia, which is the most common type of lazy eye.
Deprivation (Obstruction of Clear Vision): When something blocks vision in one eye early in life, such as cataracts, droopy eyelids, or corneal scarring, the brain may stop using that eye. This causes deprivation amblyopia, which can be severe and requires urgent treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.

Diagnosis of Lazy Eye

Lazy eye is usually detected during a routine eye examination, often in early childhood. Eye care professionals diagnose it by:

Vision Testing: Checking how well each eye can see using charts or pictures suitable for the child’s age.
Eye Alignment Assessment: Observing how the eyes work together and checking for misalignment (strabismus).
Refraction Test: Measuring for differences in focusing ability (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism) between the two eyes.
Evaluation for Obstructions: Looking for cataracts, droopy eyelids, or other conditions that may block vision.
Follow-Up Monitoring: Children may have regular exams to track visual development and response to treatment.

What are the Lazy Eye risk factors?

Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing lazy eye in children:

Family History: Children with a parent or sibling who has amblyopia or strabismus are at higher risk, suggesting a genetic predisposition.
Premature Birth or Low Birth Weight: Infants born prematurely or with low birth weight may experience delayed or abnormal visual development, making their eyes more vulnerable to amblyopia.
Eye Misalignment (Strabismus): Crossed eyes or eyes that do not properly align can cause the brain to ignore the input from one eye, which can lead to strabismic amblyopia.
Unequal Vision (Refractive Errors): Significant differences in vision between the two eyes—such as one eye being more nearsighted, farsighted, or having more astigmatism—can cause the brain to favor the stronger eye. This condition is known as refractive or anisometropic amblyopia.
Obstructions in the Eye: Conditions that block light from entering the eye, such as cataracts, droopy eyelids (ptosis), or corneal scarring, can prevent normal visual development, leading to deprivation amblyopia.
Eye Injuries or Infections: Trauma or infections affecting one eye during infancy or early childhood can interfere with normal visual development and increase the risk of amblyopia.

What treatment options are available for Lazy Eye ?

The most common amblyopia treatments include:

Corrective Glasses or Contact Lenses:Used to correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Often the first step to help the weaker eye focus properly.

Eye Patching:The stronger eye is covered for a few hours each day to force the brain to use the weaker eye, gradually improving its vision.

Atropine Eye Drops: Drops blur vision in the stronger eye, encouraging the weaker eye to work harder. Useful for children who cannot tolerate a patch.

Surgery: Performed if an obstruction, such as a cataract or droopy eyelid, blocks vision. Surgery can also correct misaligned eyes (strabismus) to improve eye coordination.

Vision Therapy: Guided exercises by an eye specialist help improve coordination and strengthen visual skills, often used alongside other treatments.