What is lazy eye:
Lazy eye or (functional eye weakness) is a defect in the normal visual development in one eye early in life, resulting in weak vision in one or both eyes. As the weakness increases, the brain begins to ignore the signals coming from the lazy eye and relies completely on it. In vision in the healthy eye, the condition of the lazy eye gets worse over time.
Because a child’s vision develops in the first years of his life, lazy eye must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible so that the child’s ability to see properly develops.
Causes of lazy eye:
-Weak vision:
A child may suffer from poor vision in only one eye (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism), so his vision is blurry, resulting in the brain ignoring the weak eye and relying on the healthy eye.
-around the eye:
Strabismus occurs when the direction of vision in the eyes is towards two different angles. In this case, the brain ignores the deviated eye to avoid double vision, which later causes laziness.
-Deprivation of vision:
What is meant by the presence of a disease in one eye that prevents vision in it, such as the presence of corneal opacity, white water, or a fall and drooping of the eyelid.
Treatment of lazy eye:
Treatment of lazy eye includes two main axes:
First: Treating the main problem causing lazy eye:
Low vision is treated using eyeglasses, which is the first treatment option for a child who suffers from lazy eye resulting from disparity in vision between the eyes.
Treatment around the eyes, which may require surgical intervention in some cases
Second: Stimulating the brain touse the lazy eye:
By eye exercises, which are done by placinga cover over the good eyefor a few hours every day, which forces the brain to use the lazy eye and stimulate vision with it.
The number of hours and time duration of these exercises is determined according to the degree of lazy eye and the age of the child.
