Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

What causes amblyopia?

The main causes of amblyopia are uncorrected high refractive error (astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia), large differences in refractive power between the two eyes, and / or squint (strabismus). A minority are due to conditions that obstruct vision, such as droopy eyelids and childhood cataracts.

What puts my child at risk of lazy eye (amblyopia)?

Your child is at a higher risk if he or she has:

• High amounts of astigmatism, long-sightedness (hyperopia) or short-sightedness (myopia)
• Large differences in spectacle power between the two eyes
• Obstruction of vision by congenital defects such as droopy eyelid (ptosis), cataracts or other lesions in the eye
• Strabismus or squints where the eye that is misaligned is not used