Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Amblyopia, more commonly referred to as lazy eye, is a fairly rare condition. Only around 2-3% of the population are affected by amblyopia, and it is usually diagnosed in children under age six. If you’re a parent and have noticed your child is squinting, or constantly closing one eye, he or she may be suffering from lazy eye.

Amblyopia can be caused by trauma to the eye, or by severe and untreated cases of nearsightedness or farsightedness. If left untreated, a lazy eye can lead to permanent vision loss in the affected eye, so it’s important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

The most common amblyopia treatment is the placement of a patch over the “strong” eye. This vision therapy forces the lazy eye to react and is generally very effective. Other treatments include medications and, in severe cases, corrective surgery.

To find out more about the causes and treatments of amblyopia, call our brampton optometrists toll-free at 905-457-4700.