Amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” is a vision disorder that typically occurs in childhood. It is characterized by reduced vision in one eye due to abnormal visual development during early childhood. In amblyopia, one eye may have significantly better visual acuity than the other, resulting in poor or blurry vision in the affected eye.

Amblyopia often develops due to an imbalance in the visual input received by both eyes, such as a significant difference in refractive error (e.g., nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism) or strabismus (misalignment of the eyes). The brain favors the eye with better visual input, leading to reduced visual development in the weaker eye.

• Early detection and treatment are crucial for amblyopia. The primary goal is to encourage visual development in the weaker eye. Treatment options may include corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses, patching the stronger eye to force the use of the weaker eye, and vision therapy exercises to improve visual acuity and eye coordination.