Amblyopia: Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

Treatment for your child's amblyopia takes place day in and day out at home or in school. Do everything you can to make the treatment a success. If eyedrops are used, make sure your child uses them as directed by your doctor. Explain the situation to your child's teachers so that they can help support the child during treatment.

To be effective, an eye patch must be worn as directed. It is important for you to help your child comply with this treatment so that he or she can develop the best vision possible. The major cause of failure in the treatment for amblyopia is that the child does not wear the patch as directed by the doctor.

Amblyopia: Wearing an eye patch

If your child has received treatment for amblyopia, follow the doctor's advice about getting regular follow-up eye exams. Amblyopia can return even after successful treatment.

The younger the child is, the better the results of treatment for amblyopia will be. If you think that your child has amblyopia or another vision problem, schedule an eye exam. Begin treatment for amblyopia as soon as the condition is discovered.

Amblyopia is difficult to correct after about age 9. But treatment for some forms of amblyopia may improve vision even in older children and adults.³

Last updated:	July 17, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC