Amblyopia Or Lazy Eye: The Most Common Cause Of Permanent Vision Impairment In Children

Children may be born with amblyopia or develop it later in childhood. Watch out for the symptoms of amblyopia or lazy eye in children.

Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, affects up to 3 out of 100 children and it is the most common cause of vision loss in children. Usually, it affects one eye and rarely both eyes. Early treatment can prevent long-term vision problems, but it can be hard to notice initial symptoms of amblyopia. Hence, parents are advised to take their kids for a vision screening at least once between ages 3 and 5. Many cases of amblyopia in children are diagnosed during a routine eye exam.

Cause and risk factors of amblyopia or lazy eye

Amblyopia develops when the brain and the eye are not working together properly, and the brain can’t recognize the sight from the eye, leading to the reduction of the vision in one of the eyes. As the brain increasingly relies on the other stronger eye, the vision in the weaker eye gets worse. The affected eye is called “lazy eye” because the unaffected eye works better. Left untreated, it can lead to one-eye vision impairment.

Amblyopia starts in childhood and usually persists into adulthood, if not treated successfully in its early stage.

The US CDC estimates that 2 3 per cent of the population is affected by amblyopia, which is also the most common cause of one-eye vision loss among children and young and middle-aged adults.

Who is at risk of developing amblyopia? Kids who have strabismus (an imbalance in the positioning of the two eyes); refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatic) in one eye, and cataract (Yes, you heard it right, children can also have cataracts).

Symptoms of amblyopia or lazy eye in children

The affected eye itself looks normal and symptoms may not be easily noticeable. As listed by CDC, here are some symptoms of amblyopia in children that parents should look out for: