Can Lazy Eye be Treated for Adults?

Published on

April 27, 2022

There is a long-standing and often perpetuated myth that laze eyes can only be treated when a child is under the age of 10. Therefore, for a long time, there was no recommendation for treatment of lazy eye in children older than nine years of age. The good news is there are very effective treatments of amblyopia for people of all ages, including adults.

What is a lazy eye?

A lazy eye, medically known as amblyopia, occurs when there is a lack of coordination between the eyes, resulting in one eye not seeing well, even after optical correction. As a result, each eye receives an image that does not align with the other, and the brain shuts it off, suppressing the image of the weaker eye. The brain is dependent on the second eye, which is the only eye capable of achieving 20/20 vision.

What is the most effective method of treating a lazy eye in adults?

It is important to explore the possibility of vision therapy as a means to improve your vision if you have a longstanding lazy eye. According to recent studies, including one funded by the National Eye Institute, amblyopia or lazy eye can be effectively treated well into adulthood. Vision therapy for lazy eyes aims to retrain the neurological pathways between the eyes and the brain, so that they can achieve binocular vision, or the capability of the brain to use both eyes simultaneously. Amplify EyeCare Chattanooga, under the leadership of Dr. Heather McBryar, FCOVD, provides vision therapy treatment plans that are tailored to each patient's needs and visual skills. It's important to be patient, as the treatment can take longer than it would in a young person. Compliance is an important part of many treatment methods, including vision therapy, and an adult patient is normally more compliant than a child.

Is vision therapy the only treatment for a lazy eye?

When treating amblyopia in adults we often employ a combination of strategies to both restart the usage of the weaker eye while training the two eyes to work together. This is called monocular fixation in binocular field (MFBF). A patient may benefit from one or a combination of the following in addition to vision therapy for treating a lazy eye:

Ensuring that the patient has the most accurate prescription for each eye
Eye patching or eye drops which is called occlusion

Amblyopia can be treated for both children and adults. Contact our office at (423) 710-3965 to schedule an eye exam and consultation. Dr. Heather McBryar and her staff have extensive experience helping adult patients with lazy eyes improve their vision.

Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!