EYE EXERCISE THERAPY FOR LAZY EYE

In children, when there is a loss or lack of development in one eye that is unrelated to any eye health problem, lazy eye occurs. It is caused by one of several conditions.

A misaligned eye (strabismus) is the medical word for crossed eyes. The eyes are pointed at different directions and the brain is not able to process both images at once. To prevent double vision, the brain only recognizes sight from the stronger eye.

Another condition that causes lazy eye is when one eye is out of focus. Lazy eye occurs because one eye is either more farsighted or nearsighted than the other. The brain uses the eye that is stronger and turns off vision in the blurred eye.

Cloudiness is the third reason for a lazy eye. When the lens, which is usually clear, becomes cloudy from a cataract, vision is impaired. The brain can turn off vision to that eye and only recognize vision from the stronger eye.

Early detection and treatment for crossed eyes and severe vision problems can reduce chances of developing a lazy eye condition. Without normal vision in at least one eye, a person is visually impaired.

Eye exercise therapy is sometimes used to correct or improve a lazy eye condition. The weak eye must be exercised. A patch is worn over the good eye for weeks or months. Wearing a patch exercises the lazy eye by strengthening the eye muscles. This helps restore 2-eyed vision. After normal vision has been restored to the weak eye, part-time patching may be required for years. If the child has a lazy eye from farsightedness, glasses may correct the problem. Another option is to put a drop in the good eye to make the vision blurry. These treatments force the lazy eye to do the work of seeing.

To further exercise the eye, visual activities such as crossword puzzles with small print, video games, or other eye exercise activities may be prescribed. If treatment is successful before the age of 9, a full recovery is likely. However, if lazy eye is allowed to continue or is discovered after the age of 9, normal 2-eyed vision may never be restored.

Eye exams and school vision screenings are the most important factors in diagnosing eye and vision problems in infants and children.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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