What is Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)?

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Amblyopia also reffered to as the "lazy eye" disorder. This visual disorder is normally found during early childhood and occurs when either bone or both eyes should be. The fact that the eye does not develop to perform its vitual functions means, Amblyopia patients are highly affected by the disease, which results in total loss of the abilty to see again in a short time.

Amblyopia Diagnosis

Although in many cases, Strabismus has been linked to Amblyopia, there are cases where the “lazy eye” has been diagnosed in the absence of the Strabismus. Treatment is more effective if the disorder is detected early enough. The most common symptom associated with the “lazy eye” is improper alignment of the eyes and in some cases there are just no symptoms. It`s for the same reason that it is important to visit an Ophthalmologist for specific examination and treatment of the disorder. However, parents and family too play a much bigger role in detection of the disorder.

Amblyopia Treatment

The effectiveness of treatment methods used on Amblyopia greatly depends on the age of the patient. In other words, treatment is more effective during early stages because the eye has not been damaged to a greater extent. Here is the effectiveness of treatment with correspondence to the age of an individual.

  • For children below the age of 4, treatment is excellent
  • For children between 4 and 6 years, treatment is good
  • For children above 6 years, treatment is acceptable
  • For those above 10 years, treatment is inadequate

If Amblyopia is not treated in the early stages, it leads to total blindness. The most widely used treatment method and one that has proven to be the most effective is the use of patches to cover the good eye and as a result, all the visual responsibilities are left to the lazy eye. Other treatments used in place of patches should be recommended by a specialist.