Health Tip: 'Lazy Eye' Needs To Be Treated Early

(HealthDay News) -- Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a condition in which vision is impaired, typically in only one eye.

Lazy eye occurs when the brain, for reasons that aren''t clear, is unable to translate images received by the affected eye. The condition cannot be corrected with regular glasses or contact lenses.

The Optometrists Network says early pediatric eye exams are extremely important. If detected early, lazy eye can usually be corrected. Treatments later in life -- after age 17 -- often are not as effective.

Corrective glasses, eye drops, therapy, and/or eye patches may encourage proper visual processing of the affected eye to the brain. Detection and correction before age 2 offers the best chance for a cure, the network says.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: July 14, 2006