Lazy Eye | Symptoms - Trusted Medications Pharmacy

Lazy eyes happen when the vision of an eye doesn’t develop in the right way. Doctors also call this amblyopia. Eventually, your brain will stop taking notice of the images from your weaker eye without treatment. That could cause permanent vision problems. Amblyopia generally develops from birth up to age 7 years. It is the leading cause of decreased vision among children. Rare cases may also affect both eyes.

How to Diagnose Lazy Eye?

Doctors will conduct an eye exam, checking for eye health, a wandering eye, a difference in vision between the eyes, or poor vision in both eyes. The method used to test vision depends on your child’s age and stage of development of the condition. This includes:

Preverbal children. A lighted magnifying device can be used to detect cataracts. Infants and toddlers can also be assessed for their ability to fix their gazes on a moving object.
Children age 3 and older. A child’s vision can be assessed using pictures or letters. Each eye is covered in turn to test the other.

What are the Symptoms of Lazy Eye?

You or your child may have a lazy eye if:
An eye wanders inward or outward
Eyes appear not to work together
There is a poor depth perception
Squinting or shutting an eye
Head tilting
Abnormal results of vision screening tests

What Causes Lazy Eye?

The development of a lazy eye is due to the abnormal experience of visual sensory input early in life, which changes the neural pathways between a thin layer of the retina at the back of the eye and the brain. Any condition that results in blurred vision, crossed eyes, or turning out the eyes in children can cause lazy eyes. Common causes of the condition include:

Muscle imbalance. When the eyes are imbalanced, they can turn in or out, which prevents them from working together.
The difference in sharpness of vision between the eyes. A significant difference between the prescriptions in each eye can result in a lazy eye.
Deprivation. Amblyopia caused by deprivation must be treated urgently to prevent permanent vision loss.

Treatment of Lazy Eye

It’s important to start treatment for a lazy eye as soon as possible in childhood. There are different ways to treat lazy eyes, depending on the cause and how much vision your child is affected by it. Treatment method includes: