Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is a vision disorder where one eye does not see clearly enough, even though there is no structural defect.
The brain learns to favor the “stronger” eye and suppresses the image from the weaker one.
Amblyopia most commonly develops in childhood and, if untreated, can lead to permanent vision loss in the affected eye.
Symptoms of Amblyopia
- Reduced vision in one eye
- Difficulty with depth perception (judging distance)
- Frequent squinting or closing one eye
- Child complains that they “can’t see well” or that “letters are moving”
- In younger children, amblyopia may not show clear symptoms – this makes early screening crucial
Causes
Amblyopia develops when the brain does not receive equally sharp images from both eyes.
Most common causes:
- Strabismus (eye misalignment)
- Different prescription strengths between the eyes (anisometropia)
- Uncorrected refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism)
- Obstruction of vision – e.g. congenital cataract
If not treated in childhood, the visual center in the brain does not develop properly, and vision cannot be fully improved later in adult life.
Diagnosis
Amblyopia testing is part of a full pediatric eye examination.
It includes:
- Measuring visual acuity in each eye separately
- Measuring refractive error and diopters
- Assessing eye alignment and binocular vision
Preventive eye exams are recommended from age 3–4, or earlier if symptoms appear.
Treatment of Amblyopia
Treatment is most effective in childhood, while the brain is still adaptable.
Options include:
- Glasses or contact lenses – to correct refractive errors
- Patching the healthy eye (occlusion) – forcing the weaker eye to work
- Visual therapy exercises (pleoptic and orthoptic training) – to strengthen coordination between the eyes
- Treating the underlying cause – e.g. corrective surgery for strabismus
With early diagnosis, full improvement of vision is possible.
When to visit an Eye Doctor
If you notice that your child:
- Squints or closes one eye
- Tilts their head when looking at things
- Complains of poor vision
– schedule an eye examination.
At VILEA Eye Clinic, we provide comprehensive pediatric eye exams focused on early detection of amblyopia and other visual disorders.
Back to listing