Lazy eye (amblyopia) treatment

Lazy eye correction with an eye patch

In the case of strabismic amblyopia, whereby the eyes are improperly aligned, treatment may be recommended by your optometrist, so both eyes can be aligned properly, and in the same direction. The optometrist places an eye patch over the dominant eye and carries out vision therapy so that both eyes begin to work in coordination. This is a typical amblyopia treatment for children.

After the lazy eye treatment is completed, the optometrist may advise that your child wears the eye patch for several hours each day, and they may even have to sleep with it on. This will enable the brain to start depending on the lazy eye and start sending signals to the newly responsive eye.

The amblyopia eye patch can be seen as an exercise tool for the lazy eye to strengthen its muscles and tissues because it cannot rely upon the dominant eye.

Strabismus surgery

An ophthalmologist may recommend having strabismus surgery as a lazy eye cure for your child if there is a misalignment of the eyes. With this kind of amblyopia surgery the eye muscles are the focus of the lazy eye treatment. During this surgery the ophthalmologist will adjust the length or position of the muscles, to align the eyes.

In rare cases, patients have to undergo more than one strabismic surgery to achieve alignment of the eyes. After this lazy eye treatment, ophthalmologists may recommend glasses with customised prism lenses, to improve the coordination of both eyes. This may also be an option for lazy eye treatment for adults.

Back to overview What is lazy eye?

Lazy eye (amblyopia) treatment

Strabismus surgery

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