Lazy eye, or Amblyopia, is a common condition where one eye is weaker than the other. Amblyopia causes the stronger eye to compensate for the weaker eye. This often leads the brain to disregard the image the lazy eye sees. If amblyopia is corrected when the child is under the age of 10, the weaker eye can become stronger and reduce degeneration. Read on to learn more.
Visit the optometrist. Make an appointment with the eye doctor to diagnose the lazy eye and prescribe eye glasses for the child.
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Wear the glasses. The child needs to wear the glasses all the time. This helps strengthen the weaker eye.
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Put a patch over the stronger eye for 2 to three hours each day. The child must use the eye affected by amblyopia in order to make it stronger.
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Ask the doctor about atropine eye drops. Children using the drop and the patch have 30 percent better vision in their affected eye. There are some side effects associated with atropine that must be reviewed before treatment.
Tips & Warnings
Surgery is also an option for children with other physical problems. Ask the doctor if surgery is right for your child.
A child with lazy eye may be bullied if the patch is worn at school. Have the child wear the patch at home.
If the eye with amblyopia is left untreated, the affected eye can degenerate and cause functional blindness in that eye.
