Lazy Eye: Debunking Popular Myths and Misconceptions

Also called “lazy eye,” amblyopia is a common eye condition where an eye has reduced visual acuity. Two to three out of every one hundred children experience this condition. People with this condition may still experience difficulty in their vision even with proper eyewear. It happens when the brain fails to deliver information from one eye.

A local optician shares the truth about some of the most popular myths and misconceptions about lazy eye.

What Is Lazy Eye?

Amblyopia can occur in one or both eyes and can develop due to an eye health problem. Wearing eyeglasses is not enough to treat this condition. It is an issue with how the brain takes and translates information from the affected eye. Usually, it leads to a suppression of the information originating from the amblyopic eye. There are around 19.2 million people with lazy eye in the United States alone.

This condition can occur if there is a problem during the critical period for vision development. Lazy eye is not only a refractive error but is also the most common cause of vision loss in children. Since vision and visual skill development happen at the early stages of life, children must get a comprehensive eye examination during the first year of life from an eye care professional. Young children also usually do not know that their vision is not normal, so they do not tell their parents that they have problems with their sight. It is just another reason a routine visit to the eye doctor is important. Vision issues during childhood can cause your child to struggle in both school and play.

What Are the Common Types of Amblyopia?

Refractive Amblyopia

Also known as anisometropic amblyopia, refractive amblyopia develops where there is a high degree of farsightedness or nearsightedness in one or both eyes. It occurs because the images in each eye are significantly different, making one work harder than the other. The differences between the images created by the eyes make it challenging to combine two images.

Strabismic Amblyopia

Strabismic amblyopia occurs due to a misalignment of the eyes. When the eyes do not coordinate with each other and are not focused in the same place, at the same time, the brain may get confused and fail to merge the images. Usually, the weak eye is suppressed to avoid diplopia or double vision.

Deprivation Amblyopia

The most uncommon type of amblyopia is deprivation amblyopia. A deprivation of vision in early childhood or congenital cataracts is what typically causes this condition.

What Causes It and How Is It Treated?

Among the most common causes of amblyopia are constant strabismus or constant turn of the eye and anisometropia or different prescriptions in each eye. A blockage of an eye due to lid droop or trauma can also cause this condition. Common symptoms of lazy eye include clumsiness, poor depth perception, trouble catching and throwing objects, and squinting. A person with this condition may also experience eye strain and discomfort when looking at nearby objects.

Due to the complications that come with lazy eye, sufferers may become clumsy or experience difficulty parking a car or riding a bike. Some tend to bump into things, feel discomfort in crowded places, and find it difficult to read or use a computer. They are also likely to see words moving or double on the page and get headaches.

Visiting your eye doctor regularly for an eye exam can help with the early detection and treatment of amblyopia. Eye care specialists usually treat people with this condition with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Other common treatments for amblyopia include vision therapy, eye patching, prism glasses, eye drops, or refractive surgery.

What Are Common Myths and Misconceptions About Lazy Eye?

Lazy Eye Can Only Be Treated at a Certain Age

It is a common misconception that amblyopia cannot be treated anymore when you reach a certain age. Over the previous decade, experts have gained more knowledge and understanding of the condition, thanks to research and modern technology. Most of this progress is due to the advancements in new brain-imaging methods, such as functional MRI. Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the nervous system to adapt and change. In the past, people believed that neuroplasticity was gone after adolescence. However, recent clinical trials showed a dramatic change in the perception of adult neuroplasticity.

Experts now know that there is no “critical period” when it comes to treating amblyopia. If you regularly see a specialist for an eye examination, it can be diagnosed earlier and treated easier. Still, the recovery period for amblyopia continues through life. Recent research has shown improvements in visual acuity and stereo acuity in amblyopic patients outside of the said period through virtual reality vision therapy technology. In another study using visual reality therapy technology, researchers saw improvements in visual and stereo acuity among patients previously unsuccessful in traditional patching.

Patching Is the Most Effective Treatment for Amblyopia

Some eye doctors use patching as primary treatment for amblyopia. However, there are better ways to treat this condition than patching. A recent study from the National Eye Institute showed that two hours of patching is just as effective as patching all day. While patching can be effective when used properly, it is not the only treatment a patient can use. Patients typically wear the patch while performing prescribed activities for a shorter period.

Lazy Eye and Crossed Eye Are the Same

In some cases, having different acuity between two eyes can cause lazy eye, even with proper eye alignment. For instance, one may be significantly nearsighted or farsighted than the other. It can also be that one may have significant astigmatism while the other does not. In these kinds of situations, the brain depends on the eye with less uncorrected refractive error and ignores the blurred vision from the other eye. The disuse from the other eye may cause amblyopia. This type of lazy eye is called refractive amblyopia, and people who have it will not exhibit an eye turn, and their eye alignment is fine.

Pediatricians and School Screenings Can Diagnose Amblyopia

School screenings and pediatrician checks cannot replace an eye exam from an eye care specialist. Lazy eye is one of the most common vision problems missed during early childhood wellness checks and school screenings. Pediatricians in schools usually get limited training and education about vision and eyes. They only perform basic screenings and not comprehensive exams. The early intervention significantly helps improve treatment outcomes for lazy eye, making it essential to have your child checked within the first year of life.

When a Person Achieves 20/20 Vision, Their Amblyopia Is Completely Gone

Another common misconception about lazy eye is it is gone once a person achieves 20/20 vision. Keep in mind that amblyopia is not just an eye condition but also a brain problem. It means that even an individual with amblyopia has 20/20 vision, the affected eye may still not transmit visual information as efficiently as the non-amblyopic eye. The brain may still experience syncing the information together, or it could still ignore information from the amblyopic eye when both eyes are open.

The treatment plan for this condition should focus on depth perception at a distance and near. You can achieve quality depth perception when both eyes are working well together, and the brain can combine the information into a single 3D image. Besides patching, vision therapy may be necessary to gain quality depth perception and ensure long-term good eye function. Your local eye doctor or optician can help determine the ideal treatment option for you or your child.