Lazy Eye and What Parents Need to Know About Amblyopia
- Atanas Bogoev M.D. and Maria Bogoeva
- Jul 31
- 7 min read
If you’ve just heard the words “Lazy Eye” or “Amblyopia” from your child’s doctor, you might be feeling a mix of confusion, concern, or even a little panic. That’s completely normal, and you’re not alone. With the right information, you can play a powerful role in helping your child see clearly and confidently.
Let us walk you through everything you need to know, in simple, easy-to-understand language, with no guesswork. Our article details the most common cause of unilaterally reduced vision in children.
What is Lazy Eye?
Amblyopia, also called "lazy eye", is a common condition in young children. It indicates the vision of one or sometimes both eyes doesn't develop properly during childhood. The brain starts to rely more on the “strong” eye and ignores the signals from the weaker eye.
Usually, amblyopia affects only one eye. But in rare cases with high vision problems in both eyes, both can be affected, called bilateral amblyopia.
Lazy eye is a common vision problem in babies or young children, often before age 7, when the eyes are still learning to work together with the brain.
RELATED: What Eye Conditions are Hereditary?
Amblyopia Causes and Which Conditions Come with Lazy Eye?
Amblyopia isn't about a problem in the eye itself. But rather, how the brain uses the eye. Lazy eye occurs as a result of other eye diseases and conditions, leading to poor vision.
Note that your child may NOT realize they have better vision in one eye than the other. You, as a parent, would also have a hard time figuring this out unless your child has a squint or another obvious eye problem.
The main causes of amblyopia are:
Squint (strabismus)
Large dioptric deviations (refractive anomalies)
Sealing of the intraocular lens (cataract) in children
Drooping eyelids (ptosis)
Premature birth
Family history of lazy eye or strabismus
All these causes disrupt the connections between the affected eye and the brain. Hence, the popular term "lazy eye".
Strabismus
Strabismus is an eye condition in which the eyes look in different directions. It's considered the most common cause of lazy eye in children. One usually faces forward, and the other may constantly or intermittently deviate to the left, right, up, or down. The brain ignores the "misaligned" eye to avoid double vision and prevents the deviated eye from developing properly.
Refractive Errors
Having large dioptric deviations means that someone has nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. The child may have a dioptric deviation where one eye sees clearly, and the other doesn’t. The brain favors the clearer eye and suppresses the image in the other. This isn't easy to diagnose because the child's vision appears normal in binocular vision.
Congenital Cataract
Some children are born with cataracts. Congenital cataract is a condition in which the child's intraocular lens is clouded. This can lead to inadequate vision development in the affected eye. The difference in vision in both eyes is a potential trigger of lazy eye.
Drooping Eyelids (Ptosis)
Ptosis can block a child’s vision in one eye, especially if the eyelid covers the pupil. When the brain doesn’t receive a clear image from the eye, it may start ignoring it.
How to Tell If Your Child Has Lazy Eye?
Lazy eye can be very hard to spot in young children without an eye exam.
Some lazy eye symptoms to watch out for as a parent are:
One eye looks in a different direction
Poor depth perception (difficulty catching balls, pouring water, etc.)
Squinting or closing one eye
Tilting the head to see better
Complaining of blurry vision
Rubbing one eye more than the other
Trouble reading or focusing
Important: Children with no obvious signs may still have Amblyopia. Regular pediatric eye exams are crucial, even if their eyes look fine.
How Does Lazy Eye Affect Quality of Life?
If not treated, lazy eye can lead to:
Permanent vision loss in one eye
Poor depth perception
Lower self-confidence (especially if there's an eye turn)
Limited career options (certain jobs require good vision in both eyes)
Difficulty in sports and school activities
Lazy eye can lead to permanent poor vision in one eye, even if the eye itself looks healthy. This means the child will rely on just one eye for most of their life. They become vulnerable if something happens to their “good” eye later on.
Amblyopia often affects the ability to judge distances correctly (depth perception). Children may struggle with catching balls, pouring drinks, walking down stairs, or riding a bike. They may seem clumsy, not because they’re careless, but because their eyes don’t work well together.
Vision also plays a huge role in learning. Over time, the strong eye may experience more fatigue since it’s doing all the work. The little patient may get headaches, eye strain, and tiredness after school or screen time.
Kids are often very aware of differences. A visible eye turn or wearing a patch can make some children feel embarrassed or shy. This can affect self-confidence in school or social situations. Some children may get teased or feel different from their peers. This is why a support system is key.
The good news is that with an early diagnosis and treatment, most children recover and lead normal lives.
How Is Lazy Eye Diagnosed?
A pediatric ophthalmologist or optometrist can diagnose lazy eye during a routine eye exam.
Tests include:
Vision acuity testing (can be adapted even for toddlers)
Checking eye alignment
Looking at the structure of the eye
Photoscreening tests (see below)
Pupil size assessment
Tests for stereopsis and binocular vision
Cycloplegic refraction (dilating the pupils with drops)
Anterior segment examination
Cover-uncover test
Dilated fundus examination (inspection of the back of the eye)
Vision Photoscreening Test
This test (also known as the “Plusoptix” test or “Spot” test) uses a device with a special camera to not only detect refractive error and identify amblyopia risk factors in children, but also to measure their severity.
Experts recommend the first full eye exam for children to be between 6 and 12 months. Then again at age 3 and 5. For the full Vision Screening for Children Calendar, check out our recommended article:
Can Lazy Eye Be Fixed and What Are the Treatment Options?
Lazy eye doesn’t go away on its own. Amblyopia can be treated, and in most cases, vision gets better. The key is early diagnosis and consistent follow-up during the critical period of visual development (before age 7–9). But don’t lose hope. Even older children and teenagers can still make progress with the right approach.
Treatment forces the brain to pay attention to the weaker eye, catching up in visual development.
Corrective Glasses or Contact Lenses
If your child has a refractive error, glasses may be the only treatment needed. In particular, for mild cases of amblyopia. Sometimes, just wearing glasses for a few weeks or months can lead to big improvements. And even if the “lazy” eye doesn’t seem to work well at first, wearing the right glasses gives it a fair chance.
Patching (Occlusion Therapy)
Occlusion therapy is the most common and effective treatment. The stronger eye is covered with a patch, which forces the brain to use the weaker eye.
Patches are worn for a few hours per day, anywhere from 1 to 6 hours, depending on the severity and the doctor’s plan. It works best when the child does close-up activities while wearing the patch (drawing, reading, puzzles, video games).
Some children may need treatment for a few weeks. Others for several months or longer.
If your child isn't cooperating with the treatment and refuses to wear an eye patch, you’re not alone. Try making it part of a fun routine, using rewards, or sticker charts. Involve your child in choosing the patch design. Start with short times and slowly increase.
Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine drops are used in the stronger eye to temporarily blur its vision, encouraging the brain to use the weaker one. This method is for families who struggle with patching. The drops work best when combined with activities stimulating the weak eye.
Pros:
Less noticeable than a patch
Fewer battles about wearing it
Cons:
Can cause light sensitivity or mild side effects, like temporary irritation
Vision Therapy / Eye Exercises
These are games or activities designed to train the eyes and brain to work together:
Focusing games
3D puzzles
Matching shapes and letters
Red-green glasses with video games (binocular therapy)
New digital tools and interactive platforms make this more engaging than ever for kids.
Vision therapy is NOT a conventional treatment for lazy eye, but a supportive method to other treatments that encourage normal vision in children.
Surgery (for Causes)
Surgery doesn’t treat the amblyopia itself, but is sometimes needed to correct an underlying cause:
Strabismus (to straighten misaligned eyes)
Cataract (to remove a cloudy lens)
Ptosis (to lift a droopy eyelid that blocks vision)
After surgery, eye doctors administer patching or eye drops.
When Should Treatment Start and How Long Does It Take?
The earlier, the better. Ideally, before age 7, when the visual system is still developing.
Some kids respond to treatment in a few weeks, others may need months or even years of follow-up. The child’s age, the cause and severity of amblyopia, and how well the family follows the recommendations are factors in how long the treatment is going to take.
Can the Lazy Eye Come Back?
Yes, amblyopia can recur. It may happen if treatment is stopped too early.
That’s why you shouldn't stop with eye check-ups, even after vision improves. The patching or drop schedule may be tapered off slowly, rather than stopped suddenly. Some children need occasional follow-up patching to maintain results.
Final Words for Parents
Treating lazy eye requires patience, encouragement, and teamwork. Your child may resist at times—and that’s completely normal. But your dedication can lead to life-changing improvements in their vision, confidence, and future opportunities.
Resources:
✅ Medically reviewed by Atanas Bogoev, MD.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Maria Bogoeva is a medical writer with over 11 years of experience in copywriting and content strategy. She’s the founder of Ophthalmology24, where she leads the creation of clear, practical, and medically accurate content for ophthalmologists and patients. Her mission: make ophthalmology education more accessible and engaging worldwide.
Atanas Bogoev, M.D., FEBO is a consultant ophthalmologist, eye surgeon, and co-founder of Ophthalmology24. Atanas has trained internationally, attending courses at Harvard Medical School, Oftalmo University, and completing observerships such as the GAASS program in Toronto. He combines surgical experience with a passion for education, translating surgical best practices and clinical learning into accessible resources.
