Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a childhood vision problem in which one eye does not develop normal visual acuity because it has not received adequate stimulation.

It is the leading cause of vision loss in childhood, affecting between 2% and 5% of children worldwide.

It should be treated as early as possible, ideally before the age of 6, to achieve the best visual recovery.

It can affect school performance and sporting activities. Early diagnosis is key.

How can you tell if your child has amblyopia?

✅ One eye turns (strabismus).

✅ Difficulty focusing or seeing at distance or close up.

✅ Tilting the head or closing one eye when looking at something.

✅ Poor coordination or clumsiness when playing or picking up objects.

✅ Frequent headaches or eye strain.

✅ Lack of visual response in one eye.

✅ Not noticing that one eye sees less well (the child does not complain because the other eye compensates).

If you suspect that your child may have amblyopia, it is advisable to arrange an eye examination as soon as possible.

Factors that can cause amblyopia in children:

🔹 Strabismus (strabismic amblyopia): This is the most common cause. When one eye turns, the brain ignores the image from that eye to avoid double vision.

🔹 Refractive errors (refractive amblyopia): Uncorrected myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism can make one eye see worse than the other.

🔹 Difference in prescription between the two eyes (anisometropic amblyopia): If one eye has much higher myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism than the other, the brain favours the eye with better vision and suppresses the image from the other. The eye with the weaker prescription is not used properly and becomes amblyopic.

🔹 Deprivation amblyopia. This occurs when something blocks the vision of one eye during the first years of life, preventing it from developing. It can be caused by:

- Congenital cataract (clouding of the lens).
- Eyelid ptosis (a drooping eyelid that covers the eye).
- Corneal scarring or retinal problems.

🔹Risk factors:

- A family history of amblyopia increases the risk of a child developing it.
- Premature birth or low birth weight.

Options to restore vision and stimulate the affected eye

🔹 Glasses or contact lenses: These are used to correct refractive problems such as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. In some cases, glasses alone are enough to improve vision without the need for other treatments.

🔹 Patching the dominant eye (occlusion): A patch is placed over the healthy eye to make the lazy eye work and strengthen its connection with the brain.

🔹 Atropine in the healthy eye: Drops that temporarily blur the vision of the dominant eye to encourage use of the lazy eye. It is an alternative to patching, especially for children who do not tolerate occlusion well.

🔹 Vision therapy: Specific exercises to stimulate the vision of the affected eye.

🔹 Surgery (in specific cases): Recommended if the amblyopia is caused by severe strabismus, congenital cataracts or eyelid ptosis. Surgery corrects the underlying cause, but visual rehabilitation is still needed afterwards.

The success of treatment depends on the child's age and on how consistently it is followed.