Amblyopia is the most common reason kids lose their vision. It affects around 5 % of children younger than 15.

You may notice changes in how they interact with objects and space around themselves. A child with amblyopia may:

-   Shut one eye or squint a lot

-   Tilt their head to one side

-   Have crossed eyes.

-   Have a droopy eyelid

-   Bump into an object

-   Favor one side of their body

Most kids aren’t diagnosed until an eye care specialist takes an eye exam

1. Refractive errors - which are uncorrected
   - Nearsightedness (myopia)- trouble seeing faraway objects
   - Farsightedness (hyperopia) – trouble seeing objects that are up close
   - Astigmatism (having an oval-shaped cornea)
2. Strabismus/squint
   – When the eyes point in different directions to avoid seeing double, the child’s brain may ignore the image from the squinting eye
3. Structural eye conditions
   - Droopy eyelids(Ptosis) – Especially if one eyelid droops enough to block some of the child’s eye.
   - Cataracts – clouding in the lens
   - Corneal opacities

A child with the following challenges can develop amblyopia:

-   Having biological family members with eye and vision problems

-   Developmental delays

-   Premature birth

-   Low birth weight

If amblyopia is not detected and treated early, it can lead to a permanent diminution of vision. It is important to initiate early treatment as amblyopia is reversible in early age.

A care specialist can diagnose amblyopia on a routine eye examination, including visual acuity testing.

The idea is to make the child's brain use the weaker eye to see, thereby strengthening the connection between the child's brain and eyes to correct amblyopia.

Common treatments include:

• Wearing an eye patch - to cover the stronger eye for a few hours a day
• Eyeglasses - to correct refractive errors
• Medicated eye drops -  instilled in the child's strong eye to temporarily blur its vision, so that the brain uses the weaker eye to see
• Surgery - For treatment of congenital cataract/squint

Amblyopia treatment is needed for at least a few months. It is important to maintain consistency and regularity in treatment.