If your child receives a diagnosis of amblyopia, it can be concerning.
Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a condition where one eye doesn’t see well because the brain and the eye aren’t working well together. Approximately 3% of the population has amblyopia, making it one of the most common eye disorders in children. If left untreated, it can cause permanent vision loss. In fact, amblyopia is the leading cause of vision loss in children.
Doctors usually discover amblyopia during routine examinations or eye checks at school. Once they spot it, they will refer your child to a pediatric ophthalmologist or optometrist to help. Starting treatment right away is the best thing you can do for your child’s vision.
Glasses
Most patients receive glasses to correct the refractive error - however, glasses often do not treat the underlying issue in the brain.
Patching
The standard-of-care treatment today is wearing a patch over the stronger eye, to force patients to use their weaker eye.
Atropine
Atropine drops which blur the stronger eye are also used in some cases, typically when patching is not enough to restore normal vision.
Digital therapies were developed out of the urgent need for other treatment options that are engaging and effective for patients.
Completing the prescribed treatment every day is notoriously difficult, and patching can come with a harmful social stigma for children.4-5
Even when children complete their prescribed treatment every day, many are still left with lazy eye after treatment.
Digital treatments can help improve a child's vision while also being fun. Families can leave the struggles and frustrations of patching behind.