Amblyopia (amb-lee-OPE-ee-ah), more commonly known as lazy eye, is a condition where vision in the weak eye is poor. The cause could a result of strabismus, a more significant degree of near or farsightedness, or astigmatism in one eye. It could even be caused by childhood cataracts which is very rare, but possible. The lazy eye condition may often be corrected with treatment such as special glasses, or an eye patch worn on the stronger eye. In some cases surgery may be another option to realign the eye muscles.

Surgery is usually performed while the child is under general anesthesia. It’s done on an outpatient basis. If your child shows signs of lazy eye, schedule a thorough eye examination without delay. Your eye care professional will have specific guidelines and recommendations about when to have eye examinations performed on children. Prompt treatment of any eye condition is the best way to preserve the vision. For more information, consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist in your area.