|
Amblyopia, or "lazy eye" happens when one eye develops good vision, but the other eye does not. The eye with worse vision is the amblyopic or lazy eye. This is a common condition; according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2 or 3 people out of every 100 have amblyopia.
It begins very early in life, and it is important for all children to have an eye exam by one year of age to make sure that their eyes are both seeing well. This is often done by the child's pediatrician, but if there is any sign of a problem or a family history of eye disease, the child should see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible, preferably before the age of one year. By the age of nine, the visual pathways in the brain have finished developing. If amblyopia is not treated by then, it can never be improved.
Amblyopia has three major causes. The most common is strabismus, or misaligned eyes. The child's brain ignores the image from the crossed eye to avoid double vision. The crossed eye then does not develop good vision. A parent or teacher will often notice the child's eyes crossing, and should arrange an appointment with an ophthalmologist.
The second cause is refractive error. If one eye is more farsighted, more nearsighted, or has more astigmatism than the other, the child's brain ignores the image from the eye with the worse vision. In this case, the child appears to have normal vision when both eyes are open. This is why it is important for all children to have eye exams by age one.
The third cause of amblyopia is cloudiness in the normally clear tissues of the eye, such as a cataract. This is usually the most severe type of amblyopia.
If amblyopia is left untreated, the eye can develop a permanent visual defect, depth perception may be lost, and poor vision can result, especially if the good eye becomes diseased or injured. For more information about amblyopia, visit our website or GetEyeSmart. | 
