Amblyopia Summary Amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” is the most common cause of visual impairment in children. It happens when an eye fails to work properly with the brain. The eye may look normal, but the brain favors the other eye. In some cases, it can affect both eyes. Causes include Strabismus – a disorder in which the two eyes don’t line up in the same direction Refractive error in an eye – when one eye cannot focus as well as the other, because of a problem with its shape. This includes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Cataract – a clouding in the lens of the eye It can be hard to diagnose amblyopia. It is often found during a routine vision exam. Treatment for amblyopia forces the child to use the eye with weaker vision. There are two common ways to do this. One is to have the child wear a patch over the good eye for several hours each day, over a number of weeks to months. The other is with eye drops that temporarily blur vision. Each day, the child gets a drop of a drug called atropine in the stronger eye. It is also sometimes necessary to treat the underlying cause. This could include glasses or surgery. NIH: National Eye Institute National Eye Institute Start Here Amblyopia American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Amblyopia (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Array Amblyopia Facts about Amblyopia National Eye Institute Standard ophthalmic exam Diagnosis and Tests Amblyopia: Lazy Eye Diagnosis American Academy of Ophthalmology Vision Screening American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Symptoms Amblyopia: Lazy Eye Symptoms American Academy of Ophthalmology Treatments and Therapies Amblyopia: Lazy Eye Treatment American Academy of Ophthalmology Dilating Eye Drops American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Prevention and Risk Factors Amblyopia: Who Is at Risk for Lazy Eye? American Academy of Ophthalmology Find an Expert American Academy of Ophthalmology American Academy of Ophthalmology Finding an Eye Care Professional National Eye Institute National Eye Institute National Eye Institute Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Amblyopia National Institutes of Health Reference Desk Diagram of the Eye National Eye Institute Glossary of Terms Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Statistics and Research Extended Daily Eye Patching Effective at Treating Stubborn Amblyopia in Children National Eye Institute Researchers Find Essential Brain Circuit in Visual Development National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Genetics Genetics Home Reference: blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome National Library of Medicine Videos and Tutorials NEI You Tube Videos: Amblyopia National Eye Institute Journal Articles Amblyopia Specifics Toxic Amblyopia (Nutritional Amblyopia) Merck & Co., Inc.
