Treatment:

First, any eye condition that is causing poor vision in the amblyopic eye (such as cataracts) needs to be corrected.

Children with a refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism) will need glasses.

Next, a patch is placed on the normal eye. This forces the brain to recognize the image from the eye with amblyopia. Sometimes, drops are used to blur the vision of the normal eye instead of putting a patch on it.

For treatment of crossed eyes, see: Strabismus

Children whose vision will not fully recover, and those with only good eye due to any disorder should wear glasses with protective polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate glasses are shatter- and scratch-resistant.

Expectations (prognosis):

Children who get treated before age 5 will usually recover almost completely normal vision, although they may continue to have problems with depth percention.

Delaying treatment can result in permanent vision problems. After age 10, only a partial recovery of vision can be expected.

Complications:

• Eye muscle problems that may require several surgeries, which can have complications
• Permanent vision loss in the affected eye

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider or ophthalmologist if you suspect a vision problem in a young child.