What causes a lazy eye?

Brittni Rimmer

I was just curious, because both of DH's nieces have a lazy eye. Is it hereditary? They have different mothers, but the same dad.

BlueEyedBaby

I think it is hereditary, but don't quote me on that. I have a friend and he and all his brothers have it  slightly.

jessface926

maybe it is hereditary... i think it has something to do with ocular muscles.... but i could be completely off

CKLee1107

IDK about it being hereditary myself...My brother was the only one with it in my family (extended I'm not sure about).

It does have something to do with the muscles but is very fixable from my brother's case.  He was that pirate kid for a while.  Glasses are an option as well.

Jibbelle

I dont think it is heredity in the sense that it is passed down between generations.  I think it is just a random mutation that causes it.

O believe that it can either be a nerve issue or a muscle issue.   One (muscle) is treated with surgery or corrective lenses at a young age.....nerve, not so treatable.

 

TDM

When in doubt...wikipedia it. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblyopia

homebird

It's not hereditary, at least it wasn't for me.

I was born with it. The eye developed with a pretty severe case of astigmatism. My brain ignored signals from that eye because they were so bad, and as a result, the muscles began to degrade. Luckily, they caught it when I was 5 (I still can't believe my parents didn't notice it before that. WTF?).

I had to wear an eye patch every day for a few hours so my brain would learn to use that eye again. Luckily, I regained some vision in that eye, and my eye isn't crossed anymore.

 

sweetsddh

Hi!  I'm an eye doc, and used to specialize in this area, so I think I can answer this one!  Lazy eyes (or amblyopia) can have many causes and is not very prevalent (about 2-3 percent of the general population).  Studies, and my own clinical experience, DO show a genetic link.  It's basically defined as one eye that for one or more reasons, is unable to get to 20/20 vision (which is considered the gold standard or 'perfect').  Many things cause lazy eyes.  The most common causes are eye turns (where one eye turns in or out), a significant difference in Rx between the two eyes (like one eye being very far-sighted or having high astigmatism), or deprivation (such as one eye having an opaque cataract or corneal scarring).

Basically, if one eye is not receiving a clear image like the fellow eye, that eye's side of the brain does not develop the capacity to interpret those images like the normal functioning eye's side of the brain.  Therefore, the child and his/her brain devote more attention to the 'normal' eye. 

If the child's parents can get him/her to an Optometrist usually before the age of 7, but earlier is always better, then chances of diagnosing and correcting the amblyopia are good.  (That's why I recommend an exam atleast by the age of 2.)  Sometimes all we need to do to correct the lazy eye is prescribe glasses.  In other cases we may need glasses and patching, or even surgery to correct an eye turn or to remove a cataract.  

Don't worry too much about it.  However, watch your child's eye closely.  If you see the eyes turning in or out, if your child starts ignoring one side of their face when they're playing, or they aren't developing normal motor control, then get them to an eye doc (like I said, by atleast age 2).

Hope that helps!