Commonly referred to as lazy eye, amblyopia is an eye disorder that affects vision. With this condition, the vision in one eye is blurry due to things like refractive errors or strabismus (also known as crossed eyes), which causes the brain to focus on the other eye when it comes to processing vision.
Eye doctors often used treatments like eye patches, corrective eyeglasses, and surgery to address amblyopia. There is also a medication called atropine that’s administered via eye drops that can help improve the function of the affected eye.
Atropine is used during eye exams, as the medication causes the pupils to become dilated, which provides doctors with a better view of the structures of the eyes. Because atropine causes blurriness, it can also be used for people with amblyopia. In this case, doctors advise using the medicated drops in the stronger eye to force the patient to rely on their weak eye when it comes to vision.
It is recommended that children get eye exams every two years or so until their 18th birthday. Eye exams can help diagnose amblyopia and other disorders, but parents should also be on the lookout for the following signs:
These symptoms indicate the need for a comprehensive eye exam. From there, your child’s eye doctor can recommend suitable treatment for amblyopia and any other eye disorders.