To correct amblyopia, a child must be made to use the weak eye. This is usually done by patching or covering the strong eye, often for weeks or months.

Even after vision has been restored in the weak eye, part-time patching may be required over a period of years to maintain the improvement.

Glasses may be prescribed to correct errors in focusing. If glasses alone do not improve vision, then patching is necessary.

Occasionally, amblyopia is treated by blurring the vision in the good eye with special eye drops or lenses to force the child to use the amblyopic eye.

Amblyopia is usually treated before surgery to correct misaligned eyes, and patching is often continued after surgery as well.

If your ophthalmologist finds a cataract or other abnormality, surgery is required to correct the problem. After surgery, glasses or contact lenses can be used to restore focusing, while patching improves vision.

Amblyopia cannot be cured by treating the cause alone. The weaker eye must be made stronger in order to see normally. Prescribing glasses or performing surgery can correct the cause of amblyopia, but your ophthalmologist must also treat the amblyopia.

If amblyopia is not treated, several problems may occur:

Your ophthalmologist can give you instructions on how to treat amblyopia, but it is up to you and your child to carry out this treatment.

Children do not like to have their eyes patched, especially if they have been depending on that eye to see clearly. But as a parent, you must convince your child to do what is best for him or her.

Successful treatment mostly depends on your interest and involvement, as well as your ability to gain your child's cooperation. In most cases, parents play an important role in determining whether their child's amblyopia is to be corrected.