Description
Lazy eye (ambylopia) is a reduction in visual acuity caused by abnormal visual development during infancy and early childhood (ages 3-5 years). Lazy eye usually affects only one eye, but can also affect both eyes. Lazy eye visible physical characteristics of the eyes look somewhat decreased.

Cause
Lazy eye occurs when the nerve pathways between the brain and the eye is not stimulated properly. This can cause a condition in which the brain is stimulated only one eye, usually due to weak eyesight in the other eye.

Some of the more common causes include:
1. Strabismus is the most common cause of lazy eye. Strabismus is an imbalance in the muscles that are responsible for regulating the position of the eye. Eye muscle imbalances interfere with the other eye coordination.
2. Anatomical or structural abnormalities of the eye. Sometimes the lazy eye is the result of an abnormality, such as the central retina is abnormal or cloudy area in the lens of the eye (cataracts). In other cases, abnormal eye shape, or size differences between the eyes contribute to lazy eye.
3. Tumors. Sometimes, the eye that deviates is the first sign of eye tumors.

Lazy eye tends to be found in the family. Lazy eye is more likely in children who were born prematurely or who have developmental delays as they get older.

Symptom
Signs and symptoms include lazy eye:
1. An eye that is not simteris into or out
2. Eye movements that may not cooperate
3. The lack of depth perception

For children, a complete eye examination is usually recommended between ages 3 to 5 years. If you see your child’s eyes to deviate at any time beyond the first few weeks of birth, consult your pediatrician for evaluation.

Care and Treatment
Ideally, treatment of lazy eye begins in early childhood as a complex relationship between the eye and the brain begins to form. Conservative treatment such as wearing corrective glasses or eye patches can often lower the lazy eye disorders. Depending on the cause and extent of the child’s vision is affected.

Treatment options may include:
1. Wearing glasses. If conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism contributes to lazy eye, corrective glasses or contact lenses can diekomendasikan. Sometimes all that is required corrective glasses.
2. Eye patch. To stimulate the weak eye, can use a blindfold on the strong eye. Can use for two or more hours a day depending on the severity of lazy eye. It helps the brain that manages vision develop more completely.
3. Eyedrops. Use daily or twice a week from a drug called atropine can temporarily blur vision in the stronger eye. This will encourage the use of weak eyes, and offers an alternative to wearing the patch.
4. Surgery. If a child has been born have eyes that diverge, there’s good eye muscle surgery. Eyelids are declining or cataracts may also require surgical intervention.

For most children with lazy eye, appropriate treatment to improve vision in a few weeks to several months and the earlier the treatment begins the better. Although research suggests that the greater likelihood of treatment success after passing the age of 17 years, the result will be better when treatment begins in early childhood.