What is “Lazy Eye” and How Do I Prevent It?

Many people have heard of a “lazy eye”, but aren’t exactly sure what it is, how to avoid it or how to get rid of it. The medical term for a “lazy eye” is amblyopia, which refers to a person who has reduced vision in one eye that is not associated with eye damage or disease. Amblyopia occurs during childhood and is usually due to either an eye that turns in or out (also known as strabismus), or a person who has a very strong glasses prescription in one eye only. While amblyopia is preventable, it is also the most common visual impairment among children and occurs in ~2% of the population¹. The most significant word of that previous sentence is preventable. So what can you do?

Can children have cataracts?

What is a cataract?

Cataracts are any type of clouding that occurs to the natural lens of the eye. This lens sits right behind the pupil (black opening) and is responsible for focusing light on the back of the eye. It also helps protect the back of the eye from UV damage by absorbing these harmful rays before they can travel back to the more sensitive structures.