LAZY EYE

What is Lazy Eye or amblyopia?

Amblyopia (lazy eye) is a condition where one has poor vision because it has failed to develop properly from an early age. 2 - 5% of all children have this condition.

What causes a lazy eye?

In amblyopia, one eye fails to develop properly. Usually this is because of an underlying problem, such as a turned eye or uncorrected refractive error. Over time, the eye loses its ability to compensate for its underlying problem and the brain decreases its control and usage of the "lazy eye". This results in permanently reduced vision in the lazy eye.

What problems might a person with a lazy eye experience?

A true lazy eye will result in decreased vision in one eye only. This will make certain tasks, such as judging distances, and depth perception difficult.

In addition, because a person with a lazy eye is relying on only one eye for almost all vision, they must be very cautious about the possibility of damage to this eye.

Who is at risk of developing a lazy eye?

Almost all lazy eyes develop between birth and age 6. Lazy eyes can develop relatively quickly, and must receive treatment as soon as possible to avoid the damage becoming more permanent. A child will have a much higher risk of developing a lazy eye if there is a family history of lazy eyes or turned eyes.

How will I know if I my child has a lazy eye?

In many cases, it is very difficult to tell if a child has a lazy eye, because the 'good' eye compensates for the slowly deteriorating lazy eye. In more severe cases, an obvious turned eye develops. Other symptoms to look for include:

What should I do if I think my child might have a lazy eye?

You should arrange for your baby, infant, or child to have an eye examination with your local Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. Lazy eyes can be detected at a very early age, and it is important not to delay detection.

Your Optometrist will advise you if you have developed macula degeneration, and if so, will be able to refer you to an eye specialist for treatment.

What treatment options do I have if my child has a lazy eye?

Most cases of lazy eye require one or more of:

• Glasses to bring the eye back to a normal level of focus
• Patching of the good eye, to encourage the lazy eye to work
• Eye exercises to stimulate the lazy eye, and make it work in conjunction with the good eye.

In many cases, all three techniques are required to correct the problem, and in some cases, surgery is required to straighten the eyes.

It is important that lazy eye is treated whilst the child is young, and the visual system is still developing. Once the child reaches the age of 6-8, there is very little that can be done. If the lazy eye is treated later in life, the brain cannot interpret the images effectively, and the picture appears blurred.

Can lazy eye be cured?

Provided that the lazy eye is detected early, there is a good prognosis for lazy eye to be nearly completely fixed.