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Lazy Eye
Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is the loss or lack of development of
central vision in one eye that is unrelated to any eye health problem and is not
correctable with lenses. It can result from a failure to use both eyes together.
Lazy eye is often associated with crossed-eyes or a large difference in the
degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness between the two eyes. It usually
develops before age six and it does not affect side vision.
Symptoms may include noticeably favoring one eye or a tendency to bump into
objects on one side. Symptoms are not always obvious.
Treatment for
lazy eye may include a combination of prescription lenses, prisms, vision
therapy and eye patching. Vision therapy teaches the two eyes how to work
together, which helps prevent lazy eye from reoccurring.
Early diagnosis increases the chance for a complete recovery. This is one
reason why the American Optometric Association recommends that children have a
comprehensive optometric examination by the age of six months and again at age
three. Lazy eye will not go away on its own. If not diagnosed until the
pre-teen, teen or adult years, treatment takes longer and is often less
effective.
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