Amblyopia (Lazy Eye); Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Treating Amblyopia With Occlusion

Occlusion refers to the use of an eye patch over the good eye. This forces the child’s brain to use the lazy eye since it will not be receiving images from the good eye. This treatment will not correct eye alignment, but can still strengthen vision in the lazy eye. In most cases, the child will need to wear the patch for at least a few hours each day, and most doctors will encourage activities such as doing schoolwork, reading, or coloring while wearing the patch. Close-up activities such as these force the eye to work harder, which in turn helps strengthen vision.

The length of treatment through occlusion will depend on factors such as the child’s age during treatment, the severity of their amblyopia, how well their parents can have them follow the doctor’s instructions, and how the lazy eye responds to treatment.

If treatment through occlusion is too uncomfortable for the child or additional treatment is required, doctors will often prescribe the use of eye drops. Continue reading for details on how these work.