wandering eye or wandering eye

Lazy eye (amblyopia)

On this page, when to see a doctor, risk factors, complications.

Lazy eye (amblyopia) is reduced vision in one eye caused by abnormal visual development early in life. The weaker — or lazy — eye often wanders inward or outward.

Amblyopia generally develops from birth up to age 7 years. It is the leading cause of decreased vision among children. Rarely, lazy eye affects both eyes.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term problems with your child's vision. The eye with poorer vision can usually be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, or patching therapy.

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Signs and symptoms of lazy eye include:

• An eye that wanders inward or outward
• Eyes that appear to not work together
• Poor depth perception
• Squinting or shutting an eye
• Head tilting
• Abnormal results of vision screening tests

Sometimes lazy eye is not evident without an eye exam.

See your child's doctor if you notice his or her eye wandering after the first few weeks of life. A vision check is especially important if there's a family history of crossed eyes, childhood cataracts or other eye conditions.

For all children, a complete eye exam is recommended between ages 3 and 5.

Lazy eye develops because of abnormal visual experience early in life that changes the nerve pathways between a thin layer of tissue (retina) at the back of the eye and the brain. The weaker eye receives fewer visual signals. Eventually, the eyes' ability to work together decreases, and the brain suppresses or ignores input from the weaker eye.

Anything that blurs a child's vision or causes the eyes to cross or turn out can result in lazy eye. Common causes of the condition include:

• Muscle imbalance (strabismus amblyopia). The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles that position the eyes. This imbalance can cause the eyes to cross in or turn out, and prevents them from working together.

Difference in sharpness of vision between the eyes (refractive amblyopia). A significant difference between the prescriptions in each eye — often due to farsightedness but sometimes to nearsightedness or an uneven surface curve of the eye (astigmatism) — can result in lazy eye.

Glasses or contact lenses are typically used to correct these refractive problems. In some children lazy eye is caused by a combination of strabismus and refractive problems.

• Deprivation. A problem with one eye — such as a cloudy area in the lens (cataract) — can prohibit clear vision in that eye. Deprivation amblyopia in infancy requires urgent treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. It's often the most severe type of amblyopia.

Factors associated with an increased risk of lazy eye include:

• Premature birth
• Small size at birth
• Family history of lazy eye
• Developmental disabilities

Untreated, lazy eye can cause permanent vision loss.

Aug 14, 2021

• Coats DK, et al. Amblyopia in children: Classification, screening, and evaluation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 8, 2021.
• AskMayoExpert. Amblyopia. Mayo Clinic; 2021.
• Amblyopia. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/amblyopia-lazy-eye. Accessed June 8, 2021.
• Amblyopia preferred practice pattern. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/amblyopia-ppp-2017. Accessed June 8, 2021.
• Coats DK, et al. Amblyopia in children: Management and outcome. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 8, 2021.
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• Lazy eye (amblyopia) symptoms & causes

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Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

At a glance: Amblyopia

Poor vision in 1 eye

Eye drops or wearing an eye patch

What is amblyopia?

Amblyopia (also called lazy eye) i s a type of poor vision  that usually happens in just 1 eye but less commonly in both eyes. It develops when there’s a breakdown in how the brain and the eye work together, and the brain can’t recognize the sight from 1 eye. Over time, the brain relies more and more on the other, stronger eye — while vision in the weaker eye gets worse.

It’s called “lazy eye” because the stronger eye works better. But people with amblyopia are not lazy, and they can’t control the way their eyes work.

Amblyopia starts in childhood, and it’s the most common cause of vision loss in kids. Up to 3 out of 100 children have it. The good news is that early treatment works well and usually prevents long-term vision problems.

What are the symptoms of amblyopia?

Symptoms of amblyopia can be hard to notice. Kids with amblyopia may have poor depth perception — they have trouble telling how near or far something is. Parents may also notice signs that their child is struggling to see clearly, like:

• Shutting 1 eye
• Tilting their head

In many cases, parents don’t know their child has amblyopia until a doctor diagnoses it during an eye exam. That’s why it’s important for all kids to get a vision screening at least once between ages 3 and 5.

Is my child at risk for amblyopia?

Some kids are born with amblyopia and others develop it later in childhood. The chances of having amblyopia are higher in kids who:

• Were born early (premature)
• Were smaller than average at birth
• Have a family history of amblyopia, childhood cataracts, or other eye conditions
• Have developmental disabilities

What causes amblyopia?

In many cases, doctors don’t know the cause of amblyopia. But sometimes, a different vision problem can lead to amblyopia.

Normally, the brain uses nerve signals from both eyes to see. But if an eye condition makes vision in 1 eye worse, the brain may try to work around it. It starts to “turn off” signals from the weaker eye and rely only on the stronger eye.

Some eye conditions that can lead to amblyopia are:

• Refractive errors. These include common vision problems like nearsightedness (having trouble seeing far away), farsightedness (having trouble seeing things up close), and astigmatism (which can cause blurry vision). Normally, these problems are easy to fix with glasses or contacts. But if they’re not treated, the brain may start to rely more on the eye with stronger vision.
• Strabismus . Usually, the eyes move together as a pair. But in kids with strabismus, the eyes don’t line up. One eye might drift in, out, up, or down.
• Cataract. This causes cloudiness in the lens of the eye, making things look blurry. While most cataracts happen in older people, babies and children can also develop cataracts.

How will my child’s doctor check for amblyopia?

As part of a normal vision screening , your child’s doctor will look for signs of amblyopia. All kids ages 3 to 5 need to have their vision checked at least once.

What’s the treatment for amblyopia?

If there’s a vision problem causing amblyopia, the doctor may treat that first. For example, doctors may recommend glasses or contacts (for kids who are nearsighted or farsighted) or surgery (for kids with cataract).

The next step is to re-train the brain and force it to use the weaker eye. The more the brain uses it, the stronger it gets. Treatments include:

Wearing an eye patch on the stronger eye. By covering up this eye with a stick-on eye patch (similar to a Band-Aid), the brain has to use the weaker eye to see. Some kids only need to wear the patch for 2 hours a day, while others may need to wear it whenever they're awake.

Putting special eye drops in the stronger eye. A once-a-day drop of the drug atropine can temporarily blur near vision, which forces the brain to use the other eye. For some kids, this treatment works as well as an eye patch, and some parents find it easier to use (for example, because young children may try to pull off eye patches).

After your child starts treatment, their vision may start to get better within a few weeks. But it will probably take months to get the best results. After that, your child may still need to use these treatments from time to time to stop amblyopia from coming back.

It’s important to start treating children with amblyopia early — the sooner the better. Kids who grow up without treatment may have lifelong vision problems. Amblyopia treatment is usually less effective in adults than in children.

Last updated: September 22, 2022

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Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Division of ophthalmology, what is amblyopia.

Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye or wandering eye, is a common vision problem in children. In most cases of amblyopia, your child’s brain ignores the signals coming from one eye, meaning the other eye is the only one being used.

Over time, the brain gets used to working with only one eye. The eye that’s being ignored by the brain doesn’t develop normal vision.

If treated while your child is young and the eyes are still developing, he has a good chance of overcoming amblyopia. The goal of treatment is to make your child’s brain use both eyes. Getting the eyes to work as a team becomes harder as your child grows. Early treatment is best; and treatment may not work at all if started after 7-10 years of age.

If left untreated, amblyopia may keep your child from developing normal vision.

Amblyopia affects 2-5 percent of children.

Amblyopia has three main causes:

• Strabismus , which occurs when a child’s eyes aren’t aligned (straight). The eyes don’t work together. This leads the brain to ignore one eye.
• Refractive error , or need for glasses. Children are especially at risk if one eye has larger need for glasses compared to other eye.
• Conditions that cause poor vision in one eye, like cataract or droopy eyelid (ptosis), which prompts the brain to ignore the blurry pictures seen by that eye.

Additional factors can place a child at a higher risk for amblyopia, including:

• A family history of amblyopia
• Prematurity
• Developmental delay
• Craniofacial disorders
• Certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21) , 22q deletion syndrome , Williams syndrome and Noonan syndrome

Symptoms of amblyopia can vary from child to child, but may include:

• Squinting in one or both eyes
• Rubbing one eye (not just when tired)
• Holding items close to the eyes to see them
• A wandering or crossed eye (strabismus)

It’s important to note that some children display no symptoms of amblyopia. The child’s strong eye — and her brain — can compensate for the weaker eye, making it appear that the child has good vision.

Testing and diagnosis

Vision screening is the best way to detect presence of amblyopia or risk factors for developing amblyopia. Photoscreening, a type of vision screening that uses a special camera to determine how well a child can see, is often performed in conjunction with vision testing at pediatricians or schools.

The goal of treatment for amblyopia is to:

• Correct the problem that is causing amblyopia
• Make each eye see as well as it can, which often involves forcing the brain to use the “weak” eye
• Force the brain to use the signals from both eyes
• Make both eyes work together

Amblyopia is most often treated by blocking one eye to keep it from doing all the work. The brain can learn to accept signals from the eye that’s being ignored. Gradually, vision in this eye may improve.

Commonly used treatments include:

• An eye patch  is placed over the eye that’s being used. With this eye blocked, the brain is forced to start working with the eye it’s ignoring. The patch must be worn while your child is awake. Your child may not like wearing a patch. But remember that treatment will work only if your child wears the patch as often as instructed.
• Medicated (atropine) eye drops  can be used instead of a patch. Drops are put in the “good” eye, blurring near vision in that eye. This allows the eye that’s being ignored to start working with the brain. Eye drops may be an option for certain children who don’t like wearing a patch. But putting in eye drops can take practice.
• Eyeglasses can help correct focusing problems . They can also be prescribed to blur sight in the eye that’s being used. This forces the brain to work with the eye it’s ignoring. In some cases, sight in one eye is blocked by sticking a patch or a filter to the inside of an eyeglass lens. As vision improves, your child’s eyeglass prescription may change.

Follow-up care

Once amblyopia improves, maintenance treatment may be needed to prevent vision from slipping. Maintenance treatment includes continued wearing of eyeglasses and/or wearing an eye patch for decreasing amounts of time during the day than was required during the treatment period.

Amblyopia can cause blindness, but fortunately it is the most reversible cause of blindness. Treatment is highly successful as long as children and families stick to the treatment plan.

Reviewed by Stefanie L. Davidson, MD

Providers Who Treat Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

William Anninger, MD

Gil Binenbaum, MD, MSCE

Stefanie L. Davidson, MD

Emily A. DeCarlo, MD

Brian j. forbes, md, phd.

Anne Jensen, MD

Priyanka Kumar, MD

Ayesha Malik, OD

Monte D. Mills, MD

Julia E. Reid, MD

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The Danger of a Wandering Eye

A long-term study of newlyweds reveals the precursors of infidelity..

Posted May 14, 2018 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

Infidelity is a major cause of relationship breakdown, and so understanding why some people cheat is an important area of research.

Of course, none of us is immune to temptation. Committing to a long-term, exclusive relationship doesn’t close our minds to the alternative. A marriage vow enshrines our intention “to forsake all others,” but it can’t render all others unattractive.

Psychological research suggests that we manage our illicit desires by tearing our attentions away from appealing alternatives (“Out of sight, out of mind”), and by devaluing the allure of those who nevertheless catch our eye ("They aren’t all that”). Those who report greater commitment to their partners tend to deploy these so-called “evaluative biases” more effectively.

James McNulty and his colleagues at Florida State University, in a paper published recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , wondered whether evaluative biases have any effect on real-world behavior. Reported feelings of commitment are one thing, but actual infidelity is another thing entirely.

Are people who are able to still their wandering eyes less likely to cheat?

McNulty’s team recruited around 500 newlyweds (most couples were male-female) for a long-term study. At the beginning of the study, all the volunteers visited the researchers’ lab. There they completed two tasks:

• The first was a test of the volunteers’ attention to romantic alternatives. The volunteers were shown a series of photographs of attractive and average-looking men and women on a computer screen. After each photograph disappeared from the screen, it was replaced by a square or a circle. The volunteers’ job was to click one button if the shape was a square and another if it was a circle. Sounds easy, right? However, the photograph wasn’t always in the same place on the screen —each one jumped to a new position. And the shapes that appeared after the photographs were sometimes in the same position as the photograph, and sometimes elsewhere. The idea behind the task was that volunteers who find it difficult to drag their attention away from a face will be slower to categorize a shape when it materializes elsewhere on the screen. An attractive face is more likely to "glue" your eyes in position.
• In the second task, the volunteers’ tendency to devalue the attractiveness of others was tested. The volunteers rated the attractiveness of the same men and women whose photographs they had seen in the first task. A control group of single volunteers also rated the photographs. On average, the newlyweds rated the photographs as less attractive than the singletons did, which confirms the results of previous research indicating that those in a committed relationship are more inclined to devalue the attractiveness of others. However, each volunteer varied in the extent to which they devalued attractiveness compared to the average singleton. Some thought the faces were relatively unattractive; others thought the faces were relatively attractive.

Over the next three years, the volunteers periodically completed surveys about their commitment to their marriage, and reported on infidelity by themselves and their spouses.

McNulty discovered that those who had found attractive others more attention-grabbing were more likely to have cheated on their partner by the end of the three years. In fact, he could be specific about it: Each increase in the speed of disengagement of one-tenth of a second (about the difference between gold and silver medal times in elite 100m sprint races) decreased the odds of infidelity by a massive 50 percent . I’ll say it again: If you can tear your eyes away from a hottie 100ms faster, you are half as likely to cheat on your partner in the next three years.

Of course, we can’t be sure that cheating is caused by a wandering eye. It is possible that people who are distracted by attractive alternatives also behave differently in other ways, or possess certain attitudes or values that directly influence infidelity. McNulty also found that cheaters were more likely to report lower relationship satisfaction and to have younger partners.

Those who reported infidelity were also less likely to devalue the attractiveness of alternatives: If you think other people are hot, you’re more likely to stray. In McNulty’s study, volunteers who rated attractive, opposite- sex persons an average of two points lower in attractiveness on a 1–10 scale were half as likely to have cheated.

So, a tendency to avoid looking at attractive others, and to view those who do attract attention as less appealing, does seem to be associated with faithfulness.

Further analyses revealed that people who rated others as more attractive tended to be less satisfied with their relationships by the end of the three years. Also, McNulty discovered that volunteers who found it more difficult to drag their attention away from attractive alternatives were more likely to have broken up. (After three years, around 12 percent of all the couples had gone their separate ways.)

Volunteers were also photographed at the beginning of the study, and their own photographs were rated for attractiveness by a group of independent volunteers. When a woman was low in others' perceived attractiveness, both she and her partner were more likely to cheat. The male partner’s attractiveness was unimportant.

McNulty, J. K., Meltzer, A. L., Makhanova, A., & Maner, J. K. (in press). Attentional and evaluative biases help people maintain relationships by avoiding infidelity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. doi:10.1037/pspi0000127

Robert Burriss, Ph.D., is an evolutionary psychologist at Basel University in Switzerland. He produces The Psychology of Attractiveness Podcast.

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How to Deal With a Partner Who Has Wandering Eyes

Sheri Stritof has written about marriage and relationships for 20+ years. She's the co-author of The Everything Great Marriage Book. 

Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.

Signs of a Wandering Eye

Differing viewpoints.

• Impact of Social Media
• Have You Crossed a Line?

How to Respond

When a person has a 'wandering eye,' it means looking and having sexual thoughts about people other than their current romantic partner. It may include behaviors such as overtly evaluating and appreciating someone's physical attractiveness or even outright flirting with people who are not their romantic partners.

When the issue of a partner's eyes wandering is discussed, there seem to be two general responses: Either the behavior is brushed off as nothing to be concerned about or feelings of hurt and disrespect ensue, which may harm the relationship .

Some even believe checking out people other than a committed partner is a sure sign of infidelity, or at least a form of micro-cheating . The true answer to whether or not this is OK lies with you, your needs, and your personal boundaries .

It is important to recognize that each person has differing definitions depending on their beliefs and boundaries. Some examples of behaviors that characterize a wandering eye include:

• Blatantly checking out another person
• Flirting with other people
• Having sexual fantasies about others
• Talking about sexual fantasies about other people
• Telling other people they are attractive
• Planning romantic or sexual encounters with people other than their partner
• Texting or DMing people other than their partner

The behaviors that characterize a wandering eye involve how a person thinks about or communicates with people other than their partner. If these thoughts or actions lead to romantic or sexual encounters, it would be defined as cheating .

According to  Gail Saltz, M.D ., a psychiatrist and expert on relationship matters, blatantly checking out, commenting on, repeatedly admiring, and flirting or touching someone else usually feels quite undermining to a partner.

For partners that are bothered by the behavior, having wandering eyes is often described as:

• A sign of disrespect
• Damaging to a relationship
• Insensitive behavior that shows a lack of caring
• One of the first signs of cheating and that a person is looking for another relationship

Dr. Saltz acknowledges that all humans have some measure of voyeurism and exhibitionism: we like to look and we like to show.

But unless both parties are confident of the others' affection and fidelity, an obvious and frequent wandering eye will generally stir up envy and hurt, making one feel unappreciated and even threatened in the relationship.

On the other hand, some people believe that having a wandering eye is perfectly normal behavior. People in this camp often don't worry about a quick glance, and some may not even be bothered by something more.

Those who feel this way often cite the following points:

• Looking at an attractive person is thought to be a natural physiological reaction.
• A person with wandering eyes just appreciates beauty.

Again, it's important to remember that you define what is normal and acceptable for yourself and your relationship. That said, a study published in the  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that a consistent wandering eye probably signals a more significant issue in a relationship, which is worth considering.

Some evidence suggests that people prone to having a wandering eye are also more likely to engage in infidelity. One study found that people who found attractive people more attention-grabbing were more likely to eventually cheat on their partners.

Impact of Social Media and Technology

People don't just engage in 'wandering' behaviors in real-world encounters. They can also make their way into online interactions. In such settings, 'wandering' might involve:

• Flirting with another person, either in the comments section on their social media post or via direct message
• "Liking" another person's photos to communicate interest
• Flirtatious, romantic, or sexual texting with people who are not the person's partner
• Intentionally joining social sites in order to engage in flirtatious communication with others

Such behaviors can affect trust, communication, and intimacy in a relationship. According to one survey, around a quarter of people in relationships feel that technology has had a negative impact on their relationships.

Have You or Your Partner Crossed the Line

It isn't always easy to determine if you or your partner have crossed a boundary in your relationship. This is because it is normal to think that other people are attractive and doing so doesn't necessarily mean that you've broken trust with your partner.

In order to recognize whether you or your partner have a wandering eye, consider the following:

• How would your partner feel if they knew about your behaviors?
• How would it make you feel if your partner was doing the same thing?
• Have you ever discussed boundaries with your partner?
• Does your current behavior violate your partner's trust?
• Are you hiding your behavior from your partner?

If you feel like your partner would be hurt or upset and need to hide your actions from them, it is a good sign that your actions are crossing the line. 

If you are bothered by your partner's eyes wandering, Dr. Saltz suggests that you make it clear that although you don't expect them to wear blinders, you don't want them to ogle someone else.

If your partner really won't make any effort to change and doesn't appear to care how it makes you feel, it's likely that other issues may be affecting your relationship that couple's therapy could help examine.

Indeed, it seems that research agrees with this advice. The aforementioned study goes on to say that nagging your partner to stop looking likely won't address any underlying problems, either. Your relationship will require communication and a strategy to boost satisfaction and commitment.

Leading with jealousy and sweeping requests for your partner to change his or her behavior may lead them to tune you out. Instead, Dr. Saltz suggests the following:

• Accept that your partner's wandering eye is not a reflection of your own attractiveness.
• Don't try to "police" your partner's wandering eyes.
• If your partner's wandering eye creates a problem in your relationship, discuss the issue with them. Start with your own feelings, not with an accusation or criticism. 
• Suggest couple's therapy or attend therapy on your own if your requests are continually ignored.
• Try to casually acknowledge it first when a beautiful person comes into view.

A Word From Verywell

A wandering eye could very well be a natural, simple acknowledgment of attractive people—nothing more. Of course, that may not be the case all the time. Regardless, your feelings should be valid to your partner. If it bothers you and you have calmly expressed as such to your partner, he or she should be receptive to your concerns.

DeWall, CN, Maner, JK, Deckman, T, Rouby, DA. Forbidden fruit: inattention to attractive alternatives provokes implicit relationship reactance . J Pers Soc Psychol . 2011;100(4), 621–629. doi:10.1037/a0021749

McNulty JK, Meltzer AL, Makhanova A, Maner JK. Attentional and evaluative biases help people maintain relationships by avoiding infidelity .  J Pers Soc Psychol . 2018;115(1):76-95. doi:10.1037/pspi0000127

Pew Research Center. Couples, the internet, and social media .

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. About marriage and family therapists .

Dewall CN, Maner JK, Deckman T, Rouby DA. Forbidden fruit: Inattention to attractive alternatives provokes implicit relationship reactance .  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology . 2011;100(4):621-629. doi:10.1037/a0021749

By Sheri Stritof Sheri Stritof has written about marriage and relationships for 20+ years. She's the co-author of The Everything Great Marriage Book. 

5 treatments to fix a lazy eye, according to an eye doctor

• You can fix a lazy eye by blurring the vision in your stronger eye, which forces you to develop the vision in your weaker eye.
• This can be done by wearing an eye patch, getting special corrective glasses, using medicated eye drops, adding a Bangerter filter to glasses, or even surgery.
• A lazy eye is usually caused by an uncorrected vision problem, an eye misalignment, or by something blocking your vision, like a droopy eyelid or scar in front of the eye. 

Amblyopia, more commonly referred to as a lazy eye, is a relatively common condition. It occurs in about 3% of children and involves one eye being weaker and having poorer vision than the other eye. 

Although there's some stigma surrounding the term "lazy eye," it's important to note that a lazy eye is not a reflection of character. It doesn't mean that you're lazy — it is an uncontrollable health issue with your eyes — and it can be treated with a number of methods. 

Without treatment, the eye will become even weaker, which is why it's so important to fix a lazy eye. Here's what you need to know about what causes a lazy eye and how to effectively treat it. 

What is a lazy eye?

A lazy eye is when there is poor vision in one eye, and vision relies on the stronger "good" eye. It is the result of a problem with the connection between the eye and the brain. A lazy eye usually develops early in life. When the vision in one eye is abnormal, neural connections, or brain signals, won't be properly stimulated, and the signals that are sent to the brain will create a blurred image, says Jill Rotruck, MD , an ophthalmologist and assistant professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine.

There are three main causes of a lazy eye , Rotruck says. They are:

• Uncorrected refractive error . This is when there is an uncorrected vision problem, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
• Strabismus . This is when the eyes are misaligned. 
• Stimulus deprivation . This is when something is blocking the vision. 

Amblyopia itself doesn't result in a change in appearance to the eye, says Rotruck. If the lazy eye is caused by an uncorrected refractive error, both eyes may appear normal.

However, in the case of strabismus, the eyes may be misaligned, with one eye wandering inward or outward. Additionally, if the amblyopia is caused by something blocking the vision, this will be visible, such as a droopy eyelid, scar in front of the eye, or cloudiness of the eye's lens. 

How to fix a lazy eye

Depending on the individual's situation, there are various ways to fix a lazy eye. While the methods are very different, they mainly have the same goal, which is to address the underlying cause and force use of the weaker eye. 

Some examples of treatment include:

1. Corrective glasses 

One way to correct a lazy eye is by using glasses that deliberately blur the image that the stronger eye sees. This is usually done by using an incorrect glasses prescription, known as optical penalization.

By blurring the image that the stronger eye sees, Rotruck says the brain will be forced to pay attention to the weaker eye, and strengthen the connection between the brain and the weaker eye. Contact lenses can be used in the same way, however, if the patient is a very young child, it's much more likely for glasses to be used. 

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, corrective glasses are a very common first-line treatment for amblyopia. This method is highly effective for amblyopia. A 2006 study showed that there was a significant improvement in 77% of participants. Furthermore, the condition was fully resolved in 27% of participants. 

2. Eye patches

Rather than blur the vision in the stronger eye, an eye patch takes away the vision in the stronger eye completely, which will also strengthen the weaker lazy eye by strengthening the connection between the brain and the weaker eye. Rotruck says treatment will vary from wearing the patch for two to six hours a day, to all day in some cases. 

This treatment has been shown to be effective. A 2006 study found that 2 hours of daily patching resulted in a modest improvement of moderate to severe amblyopia. 

3. Medicated eye drops

The most common form of medicated eye drops for lazy eyes is atropine drops . Rotruck says these work by preventing the stronger eye from focusing, which causes blurred vision. This involves putting the eye drops in the stronger eye, which forces the patient to use the weaker eye more, says Rotruck. These drops are typically prescribed to be used two days a week. 

Two 2009 studies found that weekend atropine eye drop was effective in improving severe amblyopia over the course of 18 weeks. 

4. Bangerter filter

A Bangerter filter is another way to blur the better-seeing eye's vision. This is a special type of filter that is put on the lens of the glasses of the better eye, making the view through the lens hazy, says Rotruck.

This forces the lazy eye to be used more. The filter will be used until the patient's eye doctor determines that the treatment is no longer needed. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this method is not as popular as the others.

A 2009 study found that using a Bangerter filter along with corrective lenses works more quickly than using corrective lenses alone.

In some cases, surgery is necessary for amblyopia if the cause is stimulus deprivation, meaning something getting in the way of the vision such as a droopy eyelid, cataracts, or scarring.

"Clearing the obstruction will allow clear signals to reach the brain and the brain to learn how to see normally out of each eye," says Rotruck. 

Insider's takeaway

Ultimately, the best treatment for a lazy eye will be determined by the patient's doctor. The doctor will decide which method to use and how long to use it for. Some patients will see improvement within weeks, but in other cases, it can take months or longer to fully treat amblyopia.

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Amblyopia Surgery: Everything You Need to Know

• When It's an Option

How to Prepare

• What to Expect

Amblyopia (lazy eye) is a condition in which one eye does not function properly. Therefore, the brain only works with the better-seeing eye and ignores images from the weaker eye. Its symptoms include unequal vision in the eyes and impaired depth perception. This results in permanently decreased vision in the ambylopic eye that is not correctable with glasses or contact lenses.

Non-surgical interventions are more common than surgery for managing the causes of amblyopia. However, when appropriate, surgery can help to correct some of the causes in children. These can include strabismus (crossed eyes), cataracts, refractive errors, and a droopy eyelid.

This article discusses when surgery is an option for amblyopia. It also covers the purpose of surgery, what to expect, and recovery.

When Is Surgery an Option for Amblyopia?

Surgery may be an option for certain eye conditions that cause amblyopia. However, surgery doesn't treat amblyopia itself.

The most common treatments for amblyopia are wearing glasses or an eye patch. These can help your weaker eye learn to work in coordination with the brain. If you have surgery to fix a condition that causes amblyopia, you may still need to wear glasses or a patch afterward for a certain amount of time.

Conditions Treated With Surgery

The following lists some eye conditions that may lead to amblyopia and what surgeries may be used to correct them. Most of these procedures are minimally invasive with a small incision, and some are done with laser surgery. General anesthesia or monitored anesthesia sedation with local anesthesia are required to prevent the child from moving during the procedure.

Refractive Vision Impairments

Sometimes, a refractive vision impairment such as myopia (nearsightedness) , hyperopia (farsightedness) , or astigmatism can cause amblyopia. This can happen if the vision defect affects only one eye, or if it affects both eyes unequally.

Vision correction might reverse amblyopia, especially if done at a young age. However, most cases of refractive correction in children can be treated with glasses and occasionally contacts.

Surgery is generally reserved for children with anisometropic amblyopia who do not respond to standard treatment. Anisometropic means that there is a large difference in prescription between the two eyes.

Surgery may also be used with children with serious vision impairment who are unable to wear glasses for developmental, sensory, or other reasons. As a result, only a small percentage of children are suitable candidates for this surgery. When surgery is needed, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is more commonly performed on children than LASIK ( laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis ) surgery. That's because PRK doesn't have certain risks that LASIK has.

With PRK, the ophthalmologist uses a laser to shape the cornea. This helps improve how the light focuses on the retina to correct vision.

Strabismus Strabismus , or crossed eyes, can sometimes cause amblyopia. In strabismus, your eyes are pointed in two different directions. For instance, one eye may be focused straight ahead, while the other is turned to the inside.

To avoid double vision, your brain then focuses on the eye that sees straight ahead and ignores the other eye, This keeps the weaker eye from developing correctly, leading to amblyopia.

Eye muscle surgery may be recommended for treating strabismus. This surgery is performed on the muscles to realign the eye. It works by tightening the eye muscles (resection procedure) or loosening the eye muscles (recession procedure).

In a recession procedure, the eye muscle is detached and reattached further from the front of the eye so the muscle is weaker. In a resection procedure, the eye muscle has a section removed to make it shorter and stronger.

Cataracts Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's lens. It not only affects adults, but it can occasionally affect children, too. It may be something they're born with or something they develop in childhood.

Without treatment for cataracts, vision distortion can lead to amblyopia. That's because children's eyes and brains are still developing in their ability to process vision.

In this case, the first step to resolving amblyopia is cataract surgery . The procedure involves removing the cloudy lens in your eye and replacing it with an artificial lens.

Afterward, most children need ongoing treatment to help improve the connections between the brain and eyes. They may need to wear an eye patch, glasses, or contact lenses. Droopy eyelid

Droopy eyelid, also called ptosis , is when the upper eyelid droops over the eye and blocks your vision. In some cases, it can cause amblyopia, since one eye can see better than the other.

Ptosis surgery involves tightening the levator muscle, which lifts the eyelid. It might also involve attaching the eyelid to other muscles that can help lift it.

After surgery, amblyopia is treated by using an eye patch, special eyeglasses, or eye drops to help the weaker eye get stronger.

Contraindications

While useful for these eye issues, surgery is not recommended for all types of vision defects that cause amblyopia. For example, if the visual defect is caused by dysfunction of the brain's occipital lobe (the primary vision area), surgery will not correct it.

Health issues like a bleeding disorder, inflammatory disease, or immune dysfunction can increase your risk of complications. You and your healthcare provider will have to weigh the risks and benefits of surgery in your case.

An acute illness or infection can be a contraindication to surgery and will need to resolve before the procedure can proceed.

Potential Risks

In addition to the standard risks associated with surgery and anesthesia, these ophthalmic surgeries have certain potential complications.

Problems that may occur due to surgery include:

• Structural damage to the eye

These complications might require immediate intervention. If not adequately resolved, an adverse surgical event may result in a lasting vision issue that could be worse than the original problem.

Blurry vision, decreased vision, or blindness are potential rare and unforeseen complications in any ophthalmic surgery.

Purpose of Surgery

Amblyopia is the leading cause of vision impairment in children. Surgery, along with follow-up treatment, can help relieve the following effects of amblyopia:

• Decreased vision in one or both eyes
• Misaligned eyes (one eye turned inward)
• Head tilting
• Impaired depth perception 

Symptoms of amblyopia are not always obvious. In fact, many people with amblyopia do not complain about vision difficulties or eye movement issues. Often, amblyopia is diagnosed with a routine eye examination, such as a refraction test .

The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that children should have their eyes examined and vision tested as newborns, before age 1, and again before age 3.

Addressing amblyopia as early as possible is important. Early treatment can prevent permanent vision loss later in life. Vision deficits in amblyopia can occur due to several mechanisms that change the way the brain processes visual information:

• When vision is better in one eye, the brain may adapt and preferentially use the better eye, ignoring the eye with impaired vision. When one eye is not used, vision declines further and eye alignment may be impaired as the weaker amblyopic eye starts to drift.
• Asynchronous eye movements can cause blurred or double vision. The brain suppresses one of the images by favoring one eye. This causes the vision to decline in the other eye.

The first goal of all amblyopia treatment is to improve the vision with refractive corrective wear if possible. Many times, a lens prescription (refractive correction) will restore proper eye alignment.   

Surgery may be necessary to correct structural defects in the eye. However, even with surgery, follow-up treatment is typically needed to correct amblyopia. This involves strengthening your weaker eye by increasing its use.

One example is patching. Wearing a patch over the good eye forces the brain to start using the weaker eye so it can become stronger. As an alternative, prescription eye drops are sometimes used to blur the vision in the stronger eye for the same purpose.

If surgery is recommended, the ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) will plan the procedure based on observation of the eyes. This may include an eye examination , eye muscle testing , tests for depth perception, and imaging tests such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan .

Specific testing might be needed to evaluate issues like congenital cataracts .

You and your healthcare provider will discuss the necessary correction, as well as whether the surgery will be done with a laser. There are several types of laser eye surgeries, such as laser-assisted surgery for cataracts . LASIK or PRK surgery both use lasers to correct refractive issues.

Additionally, pre-operative testing includes anesthesia preparation. This can include a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG) , complete blood count (CBC) , and blood chemistry tests . It may also include a test for COVID-19.

The surgery will take place in a hospital or surgical center operating room, or an eye surgery suite.

These ophthalmic surgeries are generally outpatient procedures, meaning you will go home on the same day.

What to Wear

You or your child can wear anything comfortable for the procedure appointment. Eye makeup (or makeup around the eyes) should be avoided, and any hair that can get in or near the eyes should be pinned back and free of styling products.

Food and Drink

Depending on the type of anesthesia used, there will be restrictions in terms of food and drink.

All surgeries done in an operating room under some level of sedation require fluid and food restriction before surgery. Depending on the age of the child, the number of fasting hours may vary. The surgical or anesthesia team will provide specific instructions.

Medications

Typically, blood thinners and anti-inflammatory medications must be stopped for several days before surgery.

Additionally, use of lubricating eye drops or antibiotic ointment may be needed for several days before the surgery. You may also be given a prescription for other medications, such as steroids or a diuretic if there is swelling or inflammation in the brain or eye.

What to Bring

On the day of surgery, you need to bring a form of identification, insurance information, and a method of payment for any portion of the surgery you will be responsible for paying.

If you are having surgery as an adult, someone must be available to drive you home on the day of the procedure.

Children might be allowed to bring a small comfort item to the pre-operative surgical area on the day of surgery.

Pre-Op Lifestyle Changes

Before your surgery, you or your child might be instructed to wear an eye patch on the stronger eye. This can prevent eye muscle weakness or diminished vision from worsening in your weaker eye.  

What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

When you arrive at the surgery appointment, you will need to register and sign a consent form. You will be asked to show identification and insurance information.

If your child is having an eye operation, you may be permitted to go with them to the pre-operative area. Same-day testing may include CBC, electrolyte tests, and a urine test . If an infection is detected, the surgery may need to be rescheduled.

Vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rate will be monitored. Typically, oxygen saturation will be checked with a pulse oximeter as well.

An intravenous (IV, in a vein) line will be placed in the arm or hand. The ophthalmologist and anesthesiologist may come to do a pre-operative check shortly before surgery.

Then, when it is time for surgery, you will go to the operating room or procedure suite.

Before the Surgery

Preparation includes getting the eye ready for an incision and administering anesthesia.

• With general anesthesia , anesthetic medication is injected through the IV or inhaled through a mask. This medication induces sleep and inhibits pain and muscle movement. A breathing tube is inserted into the throat for mechanical breathing during surgery.
• For IV sedation , anesthetic medication is injected into the IV, inhaled through a mask, or taken by mouth to induce drowsiness. Then local anesthetic medication is injected into the eye with a tiny needle or as eye drops.

Sometimes, an antibiotic ointment is applied to the eye prior to surgery.

During the Surgery

Specific corrective techniques can include:

• PRK surgery: Your ophthalmologist will use eye drops to numb your eyes. They'll remove the outer layer of cells on your cornea using a brush, blade, laser, or alcohol solution. A laser will be used to reshape your cornea.
• Eye muscle surgery: The surgeon makes a small incision in the conjunctiva to access the eye muscles. In a recession procedure, the surgeon reattaches a muscle at a point where it's looser. With a resection procedure, the surgeon shortens the muscle and reattaches it to make it tighter.
• Cataract surgery: In pediatric cataract surgery, a small opening is made in front of the lens capsule. The surgeon inserts an instrument that suctions the inner part of the cloudy lens. An artificial lens is sometimes placed in this surgery or in a second surgery. Dissolvable stitches are used to close the incision.
• Ptosis surgery : The surgeon will make an incision in the crease of the eyelid and shorten the muscle that lifts the lid. In another technique, small incisions are made around the eyebrow and eyelid, and special material is used to connect the eyelid to the eyebrow.

Anesthesia will be stopped or reversed and, if general anesthesia was used, the breathing tube will be removed. The anesthesia team will ensure that you or your child are breathing independently before releasing you to the recovery area.

After the Surgery

While waiting for the anesthesia to wear off, vital signs and oxygen levels will be monitored. Pain medication will be given as needed.

Use of the bathroom without assistance will be permitted. The nurse will ensure that small amounts of food and drink are tolerated.

If no complications occur, then you should be discharged to go home within a few hours after the procedure. You will get instructions about activity restrictions, eye care, who to call if complications arise, and necessary follow-up appointments. A prescription for pain medication and possibly an antibiotic will also be written.

Recovery after ophthalmic surgery and necessary eye care during this time varies and depends on the specific procedure that was done.

Protecting the eye from contamination is important after eye muscle surgery. And you may need to avoid exertion after cataract surgery .

If you are unsure about your recovery period instructions, be sure to call your surgeon's office.

As you are healing from any type of ophthalmic surgery, there are some general considerations to keep in mind.

Keep your eye clean and dry for several weeks after your procedure. Try not to touch your eye and do what you can to prevent dirt, germs, and everyday products (like shampoo) from entering the eye as well.

You might be given a prescription for antibiotics or other medications. Be sure to take them as directed.

You might experience mild pain, discomfort, or swelling for a few days. The pain can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol (acetaminophen), and the swelling can be managed with a cold pack.

But if you have more pain or swelling than what you were told to anticipate, you should get in touch with your practitioner's office. Also inform your healthcare provider if any signs of complications arise, including:

• Eye swelling
• Draining pus
• Bleeding from the eye
• Bruising around the eye
• Vision changes

Coping With Recovery

For at least the first week after surgery, you will need to avoid strenuous activities (like heavy lifting) and active motion (like riding a roller coaster) so your eye can heal. Your healthcare provider will give you a timeline for when you can restart these types of activities.

You should be able to read and look at a computer, but give yourself some rest so you don't get exhausted or experience headaches.

Excessive sunlight or bright lights can interfere with healing. You will need to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from excessive light after you stop wearing a patch.

Sometimes, physical therapy is needed for your eyes. This can include eye movement exercises to strengthen weakened muscles.

Long-Term Care and Vision

Generally, after surgery and recovery are complete, you should experience an improvement in your vision.

That said, you might still have some vision defects after surgery. Your vision might be different than it was before. Your healthcare provider might give you a new prescription for eyeglasses several weeks or months after you heal. You may also need use prescription eye drops to help strengthen your weaker eye. (Children may need to wear a patch.)

After surgery, you will need to have regular eye examinations. If you have a condition that affects your eye health, you might continue to have long-term treatment for that condition.

After any type of eye surgery, dry eyes can be a problem. Using eye drops for lubrication can help prevent this problem.

Possible Future Surgeries

If you have a severe complication, like excessive bleeding or damage to your eye, you could have emergency surgery to alleviate that problem.

And you might need future surgery if you develop another surgically correctable eye problem at a later date.

If your surgery is part of a plan that includes several procedures, you will need to have the next surgery at some point.

Amblyopia happens when one eye doesn't have clear vision, and the brain ignores images from that eye. It's typically treated with non-surgical methods, including wearing a patch over the stronger eye.

Sometimes the cause of amblyopia can be treated with surgery, but only in children. Examples include strabismus, cataracts, refractive errors, and droopy eyelid. However, after surgery, amblyopia will likely need additional treatment to strengthen the connection from the eye to the brain.

A Word From Verywell

Surgical treatment for the causes of amblyopia includes a variety of methods. If you or your child has been diagnosed with amblyopia, surgery isn't likely to be the first therapeutic step. But if surgery is recommended by your ophthalmologist, the outcome can improve your quality of life.

Liu X, Schallhorn SC, Hannan SJ, Teenan D, Schallhorn JM. Three-month outcomes of laser vision correction for myopia and hyperopia in adults with amblyopia .  J Refract Surg . 2020;36(8):511-519. doi:10.3928/1081597X-20200612-02

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Lazy eye surgery facts .

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Amblyopia: What is lazy eye ?

Kraus CL, Culican SM. New advances in amblyopia therapy II:  refractive therapies .  Br J Ophthalmol . 2018;102(12):1611-1614. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312173

National Eye Institute. Amblyopia (lazy eye) .

Doran M. Refractive surgery in children: Narrow indications and improved quality of life . American Academy of Ophthalmology, EyeNet Magazine . November 2013.

Nemours Foundation. KidsHealth. Cataracts .

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Pediatric cataracts .

American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is ptosis?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common eye disorders and diseases .

American Academy of Opthalmology. Eye screening for children .

Milla M, Piñero DP. Characterization, passive and active treatment in strabismic amblyopia: a narrative review .  Int J Ophthalmol . 2020;13(7):1132-1147. Published 2020 Jul 18. doi:10.18240/ijo.2020.07.18

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Amblyopia: Lazy eye diagnosis and treatment .

Boyd K. What is photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)? American Academy of Ophthalmology.

American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Cataract .

By Troy Bedinghaus, OD Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association.

Lazy Eye and Crossed Eye: What’s the Difference?

Both lazy eye and crossed eye are functional vision problems – but there are important differences.

It might be difficult to tell the difference between strabismus (crossed eye) and amblyopia (lazy eye) because the two vision issues have certain similarities.

Here’s a comparison to better understand these two eye conditions.

Other names

Crossed eyes are also referred to as:

• Squint or Wall eye

Lazy eye is also referred to as:

Crossed eyes is when both eyes do not look in the same direction at the same time.

This occurs when one or both eyes turn in, out, up, or down for part or all of the time

Lazy eye is a condition in which one eye fails to develop clear vision.

This occurs for reasons other than an eye health problem and cannot be corrected with glasses alone.

Frequently, with lazy eyes, the eyes remain perfectly straight, and are not crossed.

Crossed eyes can present at birth or a person develop later in life.

This can also occur as a result of an accident or another medical condition.

Genetics also plays a role: if you or your spouse has strabismus, your children are more likely to develop the condition.

In strabismus, the control and function of the eyes are impaired due to neurological or anatomical issues. The issue could stem from the muscles themselves, the nerves, or the brain’s vision centers that control binocular vision.

The majority of cases of strabismus are caused by a miscommunication between the brain and the eyes, rather than a muscular condition. The brain has trouble combining the images from both eyes into a single, three-dimensional image since the eyes are pointing in opposite directions.

Amblyopia usually develops during infancy and early childhood.

The following are the most common causes of amblyopia:

• Anisometropia – different prescriptions in each eye
• Constant blockage of an eye due to trauma, lid droop , etc.
• Strabismus is also common cause of amblyopia

Contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose lazy and crossed eyes.

SEE RELATED: Parent’s Checklist to Identify a Vision Problem

Find an eye doctor near you

Crossed eyes are seen as a visible eye turn, where one eye is pointing in a different direction to the other. This is the most prominent indication of strabismus.

Strabismus patients may have more frequent symptoms, including:

• Blurry or double vision
• Eye and/or general fatigue
• Eye strain and/or pain
• Poor depth perception

Patients with strabismus may report:

• Difficulty driving
• Difficulty reading
• Difficulty with sports activities

Amblyopia is not detectable through simple observation because the eyes appear to be normal, with no obvious signs of an eye turn or reduced vision in one eye.

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty catching and throwing objects
• Fatigue while doing near work
• Head turn or tilt
• Squinting or shutting an eye

Crossed eyes: Many times surgery is recommended as the best treatment option. While this can decrease the amount of eye turn, it doesn’t solve the underlying functional vision issue of poor eye teaming.

As a result, many surgical procedures are frequently required.

By allowing the person to improve their eye teaming skills, vision therapy addresses the core issue.

In other circumstances, a combination of vision therapy and surgery may be the best option. Even in these circumstances, vision therapy should be used first as a non-invasive treatment option.

The traditional therapy involves prescription glasses and then a vision therapy program.

Lazy eye: Applying an eye patch to the non-amblyopic eye is often part of a comprehensive program. 

Atropine eye drops can be used to ‘blur’ the good eye by obscuring its vision.

Patching alone, as with strabismus, does not treat the core cause of the issue, which is a lack of eye teaming skills development.

Vision therapy should be considered in conjunction with patching and/or prescribing glasses to build eye teaming abilities and improve functional vision in order to avoid regression.

LEARN MORE: Vision Therapy for Children

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you to start vision therapy treatment.

Here’s a comparison to better understand these two eye conditions that are sometimes confused, but their cause and treatment can vary significantly. 

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Lazy Eye Surgery Facts

Lazy eye and strabismus surgery are popular topics that are often misunderstood and can be confused.

Amblyopia, or lazy eye , is when an eye has poor vision because it’s not working in coordination with the brain. It can happen in both eyes but usually happens in only one eye. The brain then favors the better-seeing eye. Sometimes this causes the weaker (“lazy”) eye to wander outward, inward, upward or downward. When an eye wanders, that condition is called strabismus .

Amblyopia usually develops in early childhood and is the leading cause of vision loss in children . Early vision screening by a pediatrician, family doctor or an ophthalmologist is important in detecting children with amblyopia as young as possible. A number of eye diseases can contribute to the development of amblyopia.

Amblyopia treatment should be started as early as possible because:

• over time the amblyopic “lazy” eye could become permanently blind;
• depth perception (3-D vision) could be lost; and
• if the other, better-seeing, eye becomes diseased or injured, the amblyopic “lazy” eye cannot replace the loss in vision.

Amblyopia and strabismus are commonly confused. When most people think of “lazy eye” they are actually thinking of wandering or misaligned eyes, which is strabismus. “Lazy eye” is amblyopia — poor vision in one or both eyes. This poor vision (amblyopia) can lead to eye misalignment (strabismus). Strabismus is more commonly referred to as crossed eyes, wandering eyes, or drifting eyes. If for some reason one eye of a child has decreased vision, the brain will not use that eye and it becomes lazy from lack of use. That is amblyopia — the eye is lazy from lack of use. If one eye happens to be looking somewhere other than the other eye, that is strabismus.

Lazy eye (amblyopia) cannot be treated with surgery . It can only be treated when the patient is a child. The younger it is detected and treated the better. In fact, after age 6 the success rate of treatment goes way down. Glasses and eye patches are the most common treatments for amblyopia, or lazy eye.

“Lazy eye surgery” does not exist. This comes from the fact that strabismus (wandering of one or both eyes) is often confused with the eyes being “lazy.” Lazy eyes with amblyopia just do not see well, it DOES NOT mean they wander or drift.

Strabismus, or eye misalignment, CAN be treated with surgery on the eye muscles. This surgery can be performed on both adults and children. Eye muscle surgery can improve not only the cosmetic appearance of the eyes but also visual function.

When most people ask about “lazy eye surgery,” they are really talking about strabismus surgery , or surgery to correct misalignment of the eyes.

If you are considering eye muscle surgery, here are the key facts to know:

• The surgery works by either loosening or tightening the eye muscles. This changes the alignment of the eyes relative to each other.
• The are two main types of surgery:
• Recession is when an eye muscle is detached and then reattached further away from the front of the eye to weaken the muscle.
• Resection is when a portion of an eye muscle is removed to make the muscle stronger.
• Approximately 1.2 million eye alignment surgeries are performed each year, making it the third most common eye surgery in the United States.
• Eye muscle surgery has a high success rate and serious complications are extremely rare.
• It is a one-day procedure that usually does not require staying overnight in the hospital.
• Children can return to school after a few days of rest. Most adults can return to work within a week.
• Pain, soreness, redness, and double vision are the most common side effects of eye muscle surgery. These are usually temporary.

Whether you are looking into this “lazy eye surgery” for yourself or your child, a vital first step is to discuss your goals and expectations for the surgery with your ophthalmologist .

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• Is surgery possible for adults with amblyopia?
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Pediatric Eye Care

Wandering Eye / Exotropia

Intermittent exotropia (eye wandering).

Intermittent exotropia, also called wandering eye, is a type of strabismus (eye misalignment) in which the eyes drift out (exotropia) from time to time. This is a relatively common type of strabismus in both children and adults. The amount of deviation varies widely from person-to-person.

Parents may begin to notice their child's eye turns out, especially when the child is tired, daydreaming, or sick. Parents may also notice their child closes or squints one eye when outside in bright sunshine.

The treatment for intermittent exotropia can range from observation, conservative management, to surgery. We typically choose to observe the child when:

• There is only a small to moderate deviation
• If they can control it well so the eye drifts less than half of their waking hours,
• So long as their ability to use their eyes together (stereoacuity) is good.

We may choose some conservative management like alternatively patching either eye when there is no amblyopia (lazy eye) in young children, or putting them in glasses that are purposely over-powered to encourage the eyes to come together in children until about age 10 or 11.

We can perform eye muscle surgery to make the eye easier to control at any age and may recommend surgery if:

• The deviation becomes large
• The child begins to lose the ability to use their eyes together (stereoacuity)
• The child experiences a psychosocial impact like being picked on at school

If you think your child or you have intermittent exotropia, we recommend they be seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist for an evaluation.

To schedule an appointment, call (509) 456-0107

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Wandering Eye

by NSG SEO | A Child's Vision , Newsletters | 0 comments

A wandering eye is a type of eye condition known as strabismus or tropia, and it may be caused by damage to the retina or muscles that control the eye, stroke or brain injury, or an uncorrected refractive error like farsightedness. With a wandering eye, one eye deviates or wanders in a different direction when looking at an object.

What Causes a Wandering Eye?

The eyes contain muscles to which they are attached to, and these muscles receive signals from the brain that direct eye movement. Normally, the eyes work together so that they focus in the same direction at the same time. However, with a wandering eye, there is poor eye muscle control and one eye turns away from the object that the person is attempting to hone in on—either up, down, in or out. The eye that turns may do so all the time, or it may only do so at certain times, such as when the person is fatigued, sick or has overworked the eyes as a result of prolonged reading or staring at a computer. There are other cases where the eyes may alternate turning.

Because the eyes are misaligned, the brain receives a different image from each eye. While the brain will learn to ignore the image it gets from the wandering eye, if left untreated, lazy eye or amblyopia can present. This is characterized by a permanent reduction of vision in the traveling eye, and can lead to poor depth perception.

A wandering eye can be classified by the direction the eye turns:

• Inward (esotropia)
• Outward (exotropia)
• Downward (hypotropia)
• Upward (hypertropia)

It may also be classified in other ways:

• Alternating (the eye that turns alternates from left to right)
• Unilateral (always involves the same eye)
• Constant or intermittent (the regularity with which it occurs)

Testing and Treatment

To determine the classification, and in order to develop a treatment plan for a wandering eye, an optometrist will look at a number of factors to understand the cause of the condition, as well as how the eyes move and focus. This may include:

• Looking at the patient’s  family history
• Reviewing the patient’s  medical history
• Observing the external and internal structures  of the turned eye
• Refraction  – a string of lenses are put in front of the patient’s eyes and a handheld instrument with a light source is waved pass. This is done to gauge how the eyes focus and can conclude the lens power needed to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness.
• Visual acuity  – reading letters on distance or near reading charts to measure and estimate the amount of visual impairment
• Focusing and alignment testing   to determine how well your eyes move, focus and work together.

Information gathered from these assessments will help your optometrist devise a treatment plan, which could consist of vision therapy, eyeglasses, prism or eye muscle surgery. If treated early, a wandering eye can be corrected and vision can be restored.

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wandering eye

Definition of wandering eye

Dictionary entries near wandering eye.

wandering dune

wandering jenny

Cite this Entry

“Wandering eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wandering%20eye. Accessed 25 May. 2024.

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