IMPORTANT UPDATES

Amblyopia (Lazy
Eye)

Amblyopia (lazy eye) causes blurry vision in

one eye when something affects how a child’s
eyes are developing. As their brain ignores the
weaker eye, that eye drifts out of position.
Amblyopia is the most common vision issue
that affects kids. It’s rare, but amblyopia can
affect both eyes at the same time.

Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests

Management and Treatment Prevention

Outlook / Prognosis Living With

Frequently Asked Questions

OV E RV I E W

Amblyopia happens when something creates a difference

between your child’s eyes and how they focus on objects.

What is lazy eye?

Amblyopia is an eye condition that affects
the ability to see clearly out of both eyes. It
usually develops when a child is an infant or
very young and can get worse over time if
it’s not treated.

If a child has amblyopia, one of their eyes

has blurry vision and the other has clear
vision. Their brain starts ignoring their
blurry eye and only uses the eye with clear
vision to see. As their brain relies more on
their stronger eye, their weaker eye’s vision
becomes even worse over time. Amblyopia
is a serious medical issue that needs
treatment from an eye care specialist.

People sometimes refer to amblyopia as

lazy eye or lazy vision. Even though these
names are common, they’re not accurate. If
a child has amblyopia, they’re not lazy, and
neither are their eyes. They aren’t choosing
to have blurry vision, and it’s not caused by
anything they did.

How common is amblyopia?

Amblyopia is the most common reason
kids lose their vision. It affects around 5% of
children younger than 15.

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S Y M P TO M S A N D C AU S E S

What are lazy eye symptoms?

It’s not always easy to tell if your child has
amblyopia. Most kids aren’t diagnosed until
a healthcare provider or eye care specialist
gives them an eye exam.

If you do notice amblyopia symptoms in

your child, you’ll probably see changes in
how they interact with objects and space
around themselves. A child with amblyopia
may:

Bump into objects (especially on one

side of their body).
Favor one side of their body.
Shut one eye or squint a lot.
Frequently tilt their head to one side.
Have crossed eyes.
Have a droopy eyelid.

What does amblyopia look like?

You might not be able to see anything
physically different in your child’s eyes if
they have amblyopia. Their affected eye
may not line up with the stronger eye — it
might look off-center or like it’s drifting in a
direction that doesn’t match where they’re
looking.

What causes amblyopia (lazy

eye)?
Amblyopia happens when something
creates a difference between your child’s
eyes and how they focus on the objects
they look at. The most common causes of
amblyopia are other vision problems, or
structural issues with their eyes, including:

Refractive errors
A refractive error is something about the
natural shape of your eyes or their ability to
focus that makes your vision blurry. If your
child has a refractive error that’s not treated
right away, they can develop amblyopia.
Refractive errors in kids that lead to
amblyopia include:

Nearsightedness (myopia) — trouble

seeing far-away objects.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) — trouble
seeing objects that are up close.
Astigmatism (having an oval-shaped
cornea).

Strabismus
Strabismus (crossed eyes) happens when
your eyes don’t line up with each other. Your
eyes usually move together at the same
time. If one of your child’s eyes moves
without matching the other, their brain may
start relying on one eye over the other.

Structural eye conditions

Any condition that affects how your child’s
eyes function can cause blurry vision and
lead to amblyopia, including:

Droopy eyelids (ptosis) — especially if

one eyelid droops enough to block some
of your child’s eye.
Cataracts — clouding in the lens of your
eye.
Issues with their cornea (the clear part at
the front of your eye).

Amblyopia (lazy eye) risk factors

Any child can develop amblyopia. Some
factors make kids more likely to experience
amblyopia, including:

Having biological family members with

eye and vision problems.
Developmental delays.
Premature birth (being born before 37
weeks of pregnancy).
Low birth weight (being born weighing
less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces or 2,500
grams).

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What are the complications of

amblyopia?
If amblyopia isn’t treated, it can
permanently affect your child’s vision. The
good news is that amblyopia is reversible if
treated early enough.

D I AG N O S I S A N D T E S TS

How is amblyopia diagnosed?

A healthcare provider or eye care specialist
will diagnose amblyopia. Providers screen
all kids for amblyopia during their regular
checkup. They’ll perform an eye exam to
check your child’s eyes (including inside
them). Your provider will test how well your
child can see. They’ll also look for anything
that’s affecting your child’s eyes’ ability to
work like they should.

It’s common for a provider to diagnose

amblyopia before you notice any symptoms
at home. Most kids diagnosed with
amblyopia are too young to communicate
that their vision is worse or changing before
a provider notices it. Tell your provider or
eye care specialist if you’ve noticed any
changes in how your child holds their head
or interacts with objects around them.

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M A N AG E M E NT A N D
T R E AT M E NT

What are amblyopia

treatments?
Your eye care specialist will treat amblyopia
by making your child’s brain use their
weaker eye to see. This will repair and
strengthen the connection between your
child’s brain and both their eyes to correct
the amblyopia.

The most common amblyopia treatments

include:

Wearing an eye patch: It’s a common

misconception that kids wearing a patch
to correct amblyopia cover their affected
eye to help it heal. In fact, the opposite is
true. Your child will wear a patch that
covers their stronger eye for at least a
few hours per day. Blocking vision from
the stronger eye forces your child’s brain
to use images from their weaker eye to
see. It also strengthens the weaker eye.
Eyeglasses: Wearing glasses can
correct refraction errors that cause
amblyopia. Once your child’s vision
improves, their brain might return to
using both eyes to see. Your child might
need glasses and other treatments at the
same time.
Medicated eye drops: Your eye care
specialist might put medicated eye
drops (usually atropine) into your child’s
strong eye. The medicine temporarily
makes that eye blurry, which makes their
brain use the weaker eye to see. The eye
drops are safe and won’t permanently
affect the vision in your child’s strong
eye.
Amblyopia (lazy eye) surgery: It’s rare to
need surgery to correct amblyopia. Your
child might need surgery if they have
cataracts or another structural issue
with their eyes that nonsurgical
treatments can’t Nx. Your eye care
specialist will tell you which type of
surgery your child will need and what to
expect.

Most kids need amblyopia treatment for at

least a few months. No matter which
treatment your child needs, make sure to
encourage them to stick with it as long as
your eye care specialist suggests.

It can be tough for kids to get used to

changes in their eyes and vision, and that’s
especially true when they need amblyopia
treatments. Remind your child why it’s
important to wear their eye patch, glasses
or to use their eye drops. Reward them for
sticking with their treatment and encourage
them to use their weaker eye as often as
they should. It’s OK if your child (or you)
feels discouraged sometimes. The
important thing is that you’re working
together to improve their vision.

Can you Dx amblyopia with eye

exercises?
There’s no evidence that eye exercises can
treat or Nx amblyopia. Your eye care
specialist might suggest that your child do
speciNc tasks (like playing games or solving
puzzles) while they’re wearing an eye patch
or using medicated eye drops. These
activities will help strengthen the
connection between their brain and weaker
eye. There aren’t speciNc exercises or eye
motions that can correct amblyopia.

P R E V E NT I O N

Can I prevent my child from

developing amblyopia?
You can’t prevent amblyopia or the other
vision issues that cause it. The best thing
you can do for your child’s eyes and vision is
to have them checked regularly.

O U T LO O K / P R O G N O S I S

What can I expect if I my child

has amblyopia?
Amblyopia is very treatable if it’s diagnosed
early. Children with amblyopia who start
treatment early in life are much more likely
to have improved vision and fewer long-
term effects.

Your eye care specialist will suggest

treatments that improve your child’s sight
as much as possible. They might need
vision correction lenses like glasses or
contact lenses their whole life.

Can my child grow out of

amblyopia?
No, amblyopia doesn’t go away on its own
and children can’t grow out of it. If it’s not
treated, amblyopia can cause permanent
vision issues, including blindness in the
affected eye.

L I V I N G W IT H

How often should I have my

child’s eyes examined?
Having your child’s eyes and vision checked
regularly can help an eye care specialist
identify problems right away. A pediatrician
should check your child’s eyes at every well-
child visit until they’re old enough to start
school, and then every one to two years.

When should I see my

healthcare provider?
Visit a healthcare provider or eye care
specialist as soon as you notice any
changes in your child’s behavior, especially
if it seems like they might not be able to see
clearly or at all. Talk to your provider if your
child starts favoring one side of their body
more than the other, or if they seem less
conNdent when they’re moving around.

What questions should I ask

my healthcare provider?
What’s causing the amblyopia?
Which treatments will my child need?
How long will my child need amblyopia
treatment?
Will they need surgery?
Can you suggest ways to encourage my
child to stick with their treatment?

F R E Q U E NT LY A S K E D
QUESTIONS

Does amblyopia get worse

with age?
Amblyopia is treatable, but it can cause
permanent vision problems if it’s not
treated when a child is young.

It’s possible to treat amblyopia in teens and

adults, but it takes longer and is usually less
effective.

Visit a healthcare provider or eye care

specialist if you notice any physical
changes in your child’s eyes or if they’re
squinting, tilting their head or shutting one
eye frequently.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Amblyopia is a common issue that affects

kids’ vision. Even though some people refer
to it as lazy eye, there’s nothing lazy about it.
Remember: amblyopia is a medical
condition you can’t prevent, and there’s
nothing lazy about your child or their eyes.

The best way to catch amblyopia early is

with regular vision tests. Ask your
healthcare provider about checking your
child’s eyes during all their checkups. Your
provider or eye care specialist will suggest
treatments that correct the amblyopia and
restore as much of your child’s sight as
possible.

Medically Reviewed

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical

professional on 06/23/2023.
Learn more about our editorial process.

References

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