Amblyopia treatment (eye patch, vision training)
lazy eye · amblyopia · eye patching · vision therapy
With amblyopia, one eye sees worse even though the eye itself is healthy. It is trained by covering the strong eye and doing exercises.
If one of your child's eyes sees much worse even with glasses, with a squint, or with a big difference in prescription between the eyes.
⏱ Duration: one session usually takes 15 to 40 minutes; treatment lasts months
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Glasses. Glasses must be worn all the time. Without them, treatment does not work.
- Patch. The doctor sets the patching schedule. Keep to the hours, even if your child resists.
- Your child. Explain that it is a game and a workout for the eye.
What to bring
- Your child's ID
- Glasses
- The eye patch, if you already use one
- Your patching diary, if you keep one
How it goes
- The doctor checks the vision in each eye
- A patching schedule and daily hours are set
- Your child looks at pictures or plays games on special machines
- The weaker eye is trained
- The doctor notes changes and adjusts the plan
What you'll feel
- It does not hurt
- Children can find the patch unpleasant and uncomfortable
- The patch may irritate the skin. Tell the doctor
Afterwards
- At home, use the patch and do the tasks as planned
- It is best to patch during drawing, games, and reading
- Checkups are usually every 1 to 3 months
- The earlier you start, the better the result
Common questions
Until what age can amblyopia be treated?
Treatment works best in preschool and early school years. But it can help later too. The doctor decides.
What if my child takes off the patch?
Distract them with something fun and praise them. If it still does not work, ask the doctor about other options.