JP
1
1
Moderate severity
· Ophthalmology
Amblyopia
Lazy eye · Reduced vision in childhood
One eye doesn't develop normal vision, often because of squint or unequal refractive errors. Patching and glasses early can fully restore sight.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- 2–3% of children
- Typical age
- Childhood
- Outlook
- Best treated under 8
- System
- Vision
Reviewed by a verified Ophthalmology doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Strabismus (squint)
- Unequal refractive errors
- Childhood cataract or droopy lid
- Anything blocking vision in early years
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- One eye sees poorly despite glasses
- Squinting or tilting head
- Bumping into things
- Poor depth perception
- Often noticed during school vision check
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Glasses for refractive error
- Patching the good eye 2–6 hrs/day
- Atropine drops to blur good eye
- Surgery for squint
- Early intervention crucial
Staying ahead
Prevention
- First eye exam by age 3
- Treat childhood eye disease promptly
- Family history awareness
Do’s
- Get every child screened at 3 and 5
- Stick with patching schedule
- Reward kids for compliance
- Treat early — best results
Don’ts
- Wait until school age to test
- Skip patching when child resists
- Give up if no quick improvement
- Believe it 'sorts itself out'
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
Top specialists
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.