What are the treatments for amblyopia?

What are the treatments for amblyopia?

Amblyopia treatment is much more effective if it starts early, while the connections between the eyes and brain are still developing. Strategies focus on making the child’s brain use the weaker eye. Options include:

• Eye patches for kids: Your child may wear a patch over the better eye for at least a few hours per day. This effective treatment can last months or even years. The patch forces the brain to use the images from the weaker eye, eventually making that eye stronger.
• Glasses: Eyeglasses are also a common lazy eye treatment. They can help amblyopia by improving nearsightedness, farsightedness and eye crossing.
• Eye drops: For mild cases, your provider may recommend eye drops (atropine) to temporarily blur vision in the better eye. The goal is the same as a patch: to force the brain to use the weaker eye.
• Surgery: An operation for amblyopia is rare. Your healthcare provider may suggest surgery to fix certain causes of amblyopia, such as cataracts.