Amblyopia Amblyopia is a condition which causes poor vision in an eye which did not develop normal sight during early childhood development. This condition is also sometimes referred to as "Lazy Eye." Amblyopia, which affects approximately 1 out of 25 people, can usually be corrected if it is diagnosed and treated during infancy or early childhood. The most common causes of amblyopia are strabismus or anisometropia. Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned, also often referred to as "Crossed Eyes." Anisometropia is an eye condition which occurs when one eye is out of focus with the other because of an extreme difference in nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. In such cases the eye which is most out of focus literally shuts down and forces the individual to depend on the better eye to see. Cataracts, eyelid abnormalities, and trauma are other possible causes of amblyopia. Treatment Successful treatment of amblyopia depends greatly on the severity of the condition and the age of the patient when treatment begins. Treatment methods include one or more of the following: patching of the good eye for several weeks or months, eyeglasses prescribed to correct for visual errors or imbalances, use of special eye drops, or surgery. Remember, early detection and treatment by an eyecare specialist is essential to successfully overcoming amblyopia. Back