Lazy Eye- Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Options

Lazy eye is an eye problem which is detected in the primary age range of the child. It mainly affects one eye of the patient. You must immediately visit an ophthalmologist in case you find some similar problem in your eyes.

Causes: There are several causes of lazy eye. Some of the common ones are as follows:

1.Misaligned eyes: In this case, both the eyes cannot see in one direction. This leads to misalignment of the eyes. This makes the brain to receive different images, and therefore the brains are not able to create a single image. Therefore, it turns off. When this type of vision continues for weeks, then it turns into the lazy eye.

2.Obstruction of the visual system: If the child has any other eye problem or associated disorder in the body affecting the eyes then obstruction in the optical system can happen easily. Some of the disorders which interfere and can lead to the lazy eye are eyelid tumor, cataract as well as a droopy eyelid. These diseases do not allow the proper formation of the retina. Gradually, this results in the development of the lazy eye in the child.

3.Deprivation: If the child is being affected severely with cataract then it will lead to permanent damage to the eyes. Therefore, it is highly recommended to visit an ophthalmologist and get it treated on an urgent basis.

4.Unequal refractive error: For an error to be seen through both the eyes, it is essential to have the same refractive error in both the eyes. Therefore, you need to understand that if both the eyes are not able to see a particular thing in the see way, then one of the eyes is affected with amblyopia or lazy eye.

Symptoms:

• Patient’s both the eyes do not work together. If you ask a child instantly to look at you, then his one eye will appear to look at you, and another one is directed in a different direction.

• If a child frequently shuts his eyes or shows squinting and has difficulty in looking at one particular thing from both the eyes, then it indicates the presence of lazy eye symptoms in the child.

• In such children, tilting of the head is quite common, and the child cannot see directly from the side of the affected eye. So, he has to turn his head towards the object to get its proper visibility.

• Vision screening results show difference than the ideal results in other patients. An ophthalmologist will tell the parents of the child regarding the status of the child’s eyes
  

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis of lazy eye or amblyopia is done with the expertise of a doctor and various tests:

• Parents should take children for eye tests to make sure that both the eyes function well and equally.

• It is advisable to do vision screening tests as well as ensures that the movements of the child’s eyes are monitored and checked well before reaching to a conclusion.

Treatment:

• Kids with the lazy eye are provided with glasses in case they have a vision problem in both the eyes.

• If the cataract is present in the eyes, then the surgery is done. Then the weakened eye is treated by increasing its proper use in vision.

• Eye drops are recommended for the kids with amblyopia.

• Eye muscles are taken well care of, and regular eye exercises are recommended.