Amblyopia (also called lazy eye) is a type of poor vision that happens in just 1 eye. It develops when there’s a breakdown in how the brain and the eye work together, and the brain can’t recognize the sight from 1 eye. Over time, the brain relies more and more on the other, stronger eye — while vision in the weaker eye gets worse. It’s called “lazy eye” because the stronger eye works better. Amblyopia starts in childhood, and it’s the most common cause of vision loss in kids. 3 out of 100 children have it. The good news is that early treatment works well and usually prevents long-term vision problems.
Amblyopia starts in childhood, and it’s the most common cause of vision loss in kids. Up to 3 out of 100 children have it. The good news is that early treatment works well and usually prevents long-term vision problems.
Symptoms of amblyopia can be hard to notice. Kids with amblyopia may have poor depth perception — they have trouble telling how near or far something is. Parents may also notice signs that their child is struggling to see clearly, like:
In many cases, parents don’t know their child has amblyopia until a doctor diagnoses it during an eye exam. That’s why it’s important for all kids to get a vision screening at least once between ages 3 & 5. Read our guide if you want to learn more about amblyopia.
:One eye might have much better focus than the other. The other eye could be nearsighted or farsighted. Or it could have astigmatism (distorted or blurry vision). When your brain gets both a blurry image and a clear one, it starts to ignore the blurry one. If this goes on for months or years, vision in the blurry eye will get worse.
:This is when your eyes don’t line up the way they should. One could turn in or out. People who have strabismus can’t focus their eyes together on an image, so they often see double. Your brain will ignore the image from the eye that isn’t aligned.
:A cloudy lens inside your eye can make things look blurry. The vision in that eye might not develop the way it should.
:A sagging eyelid can block your vision.
A child might be more likely to have a lazy eye if they:
It’s important to start treatment for amblyopia as soon as possible. Depending on the cause, it might involve:
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Amblyopia occurs when one eye’s vision doesn’t develop properly and the brain starts ignoring its input — commonly known as “lazy eye”.
Common causes include significant refractive error differences between eyes, misaligned eyes (squint) or media opacities like cataracts blocking vision.
Early detection and intervention (ideally between ages 3-8) significantly increase the chances of improving vision in the weaker eye.
Treatments include prescription glasses, patching the stronger eye or using atropine drops to force use of the weaker eye and stimulate vision.
Yes — surgery is recommended when structural issues like squint, cataract or droopy eyelid cause the amblyopia, followed by vision-therapy for the weak eye.
Arohi Eye Hospital offers a paediatric ophthalmologist and squint specialist who assess, plan and monitor amblyopia treatment tailored for each child.
Treatment duration varies — several months to years may be needed based on age, severity and how well the child complies with therapy.
Untreated amblyopia can lead to permanent vision loss in the weaker eye and impaired depth perception or binocular vision later.
Improvement is possible in adults but is often limited; early childhood treatment remains the most effective window for strong results.
With dedicated paediatric ophthalmology services, advanced diagnostics and customized vision-therapy programs, Arohi Eye Hospital is well-equipped for amblyopia care.
