Lazy eye or amblyopia is a condition in which normal vision does not develop in one or both eyes during childhood. This condition is common in babies and young children. Since the child's vision develops in the first years of his life, it is important to diagnose and treat lazy eye as early as possible. Otherwise, a child diagnosed with lazy eye will not develop normal and healthy vision.

What is the cause of Amblyopia?

This condition can develop from various eye and vision problems. Here are some conditions that can cause lazy eye in children:

• Strabismus: Strabismus is a condition in which both eyes do not point in the same direction. One eye may be focused straight ahead while the other faces in, out, up, or down. The child's brain may ignore the image from the eye that is not focused straight ahead, to avoid double vision and this can prevent that eye from developing properly.
• Refractive errors: this is nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism (distorted or blurred vision). A child may have a refractive error that is worse in one eye. This eye can ""turn off"", and vision will not develop properly. This can be hard to tell because the child's vision seems fine when both eyes are used.
• Turbidity in the normally clear parts of the eye: some children are born with cataracts, where the clear lens of the eye is usually cloudy. This can prevent vision from developing properly in that eye.
• Drooping eyelid (ptosis): this condition can block vision in the child's developing eye and lead to a lazy eye.
  

It is important to note that your child may not be aware that he has better vision in one eye than the other. It's also possible that you as a parent won't notice it either, only if your child has strabismus or another eye problem that you can actually see.

Diagnosis of Amblyopia

Ophthalmologists diagnose lazy eye by different vision in both eyes during an eye exam. To test a baby or young child's vision, the eye doctor may cover one of the child's eyes and see how well they can follow a moving object. The doctor may also see how the child reacts when one eye is covered. If one eye has a lazy eye and the other is covered, the child may try to look over or under the cover, pull it away, or cry. The ophthalmologist will perform a complete medical eye examination, and look for other eye problems that may affect vision. Poor vision in one eye does not always indicate a lazy eye. In some cases, wearing glasses to correct refractive error in one eye can improve vision.

When should the child's vision be checked?

All children should have an eye exam during childhood but if there is a family history of misaligned eyes, childhood cataracts or a serious eye disease, then it is recommended that they be examined when they are infants.

Most doctors test vision as part of a child's medical examination. If they see any sign of eye problems, they refer the child to an ophthalmologist for further tests.

Treatment of Amblyopia

A lazy eye is usually corrected by having the child use their weaker eye. This is often done by covering the child's stronger eye with a blindfold. In some cases, eye drops can be used to blur the vision in the stronger eye. Or the child may wear glasses with a lens that blurs the vision in that eye.

It usually takes several weeks to several months to strengthen the vision in the weaker eye. Once a child has better vision in that eye, they may need to wear a blindfold part-time for a few years. This is because there is a chance that the eye can weaken again. Therefore, the child will be monitored by an ophthalmologist for a long time to monitor the treatment process.