AMBLYOPIA is the medical term for a LAZY EYE. Lazy eye refers to an eye that is structurally normal, but does not see well. Amblyopia develops when both eyes are not straight, or when the focusing power of one eye is significantly different from the other. In these situations, if both eyes saw well, double vision or very blurry images would result. To prevent this, the brain shuts down the image from one eye. This is called "suppression."

Amblyopia can be cured if it is treated early in life. If it is not corrected by age 8 or 9, the decrease in vision will become permanent. A child can have a lazy eye, even if his or her eyes are straight and look normal. That is why it is so important for children to have regular eye examinations. An adult with amblyopia cannot be helped.

The treatment of amblyopia has many stages. If the eyes are not straight, they must be straightened. Sometimes, wearing glasses or using special medicines can correct crossed eyes. Most of the time, surgery is necessary to reposition the muscles on the eyes to straighten them. If the focusing power of each eye is not similar, glasses or contact lenses may be used.

The lazy eye must be retrained to see well. The good eye is usually covered, or patched, for a time, forcing the person to use the lazy eye more and more. With time, the eyesight improves. Once the vision in both eyes becomes equal and the child reaches age 8 or 9, the amblyopia is cured and the vision will remain good for the rest of his or her life.

Copyright, 1997. Richard E. Gans, M. D.

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