Lazy Eye Causes and
Treatment
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What is "lazy eye?"
Lazy eye is a disorder which usually begins in
childhood involving coordination between the brain and the eye,
known medically as amblyopia. The brain, for reasons that
aren't usually understood, doesn't recognize or process images
from the amblyopic eye. Typically, it results in poor or
blurred vision in an eye that seems normal otherwise.
Lazy eye occurs when there's no transmission or
poor transmission of the visual image from the eye to the brain
during early childhood. Generally, only one eye is affected,
but sometimes both eyes may be deprived of a good, clear visual
image.
Amblyopia may affect as many as one in twenty
people. About three percent of children under six have some
form of it. Many people who a mild case of amblyopia don't even
know it, because vision in their stronger eye is normal.
A severe case of lazy eye can result in poor
depth perception and other visual problems.
Glasses or contact lenses can't correct lazy
eye, and it's not the result of any form of eye disease.
Many people confuse lazy eye with "crossed
eyes." However, “crossed eyes” is actually a condition known as
strabismus, and it's not the same as amblyopia.
Lazy eye is called a “neurologically active”
process because vision loss doesn't actually occur in the eye
itself, but in the brain.
Diagnosis and treatment
A series of special visual acuity tests are
usually needed to diagnose lazy eye.
Since amblyopia usually occurs in just one eye,
parents often don’t realize their child has it. Many kids with
amblyopia go undiagnosed until they're older.
Lazy eye treatment many include special
glasses, drops, and certain vision therapies, including an eye
patch.
As a child grows older however, successful
treatment of lazy requires more effort, including therapy.
Early detection offers the best chance of a positive outcome,
although recent research has indicated that amblyopia can be
effectively treated up to the age of 17.
Click here to see a list of other articles about
eye care and eye conditions
There are also related articles on the
causes and treatment of pink eye or
conjunctivitis.
 Learn more about lazy eye and related eye
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