Can amblyopia be treated if it a child who fails a pediatric vision screening for amblyopia is referred to an eye care professional?

Yes. Treatments will vary, depending on the type of amblyopia and the age of the child when a potential problem is detected. If a child is screened at an early age using vision screening or vision testing for risk factors for amblyopia, or lazy eye, he or she will be referred to an eye care professional to confirm if the child is at risk for, or has, amblyopia, and can begin treatment. In some cases, eye care professional will patch a child’s “good eye” or use eye drops, such as atropine, to blur vision in the good eye to force the brain to make the proper connections in the weaker eye, or lazy eye. Some problems can be corrected with glasses. If the cause of the amblyopia is related to cataracts or droopy eye lids, also known as ptosis, surgery may be required.