By Jason Clopton
O.D., F.C.O.V.D., A.B.O.
"LAZY EYE"
MYTHS AND FACTS
What is a “lazy eye”?
Technically, it is called Amblyopia.
Amblyopia actually has little
to with the eye and much more
to do with how the brain processes
the information coming
from that eye. A “lazy eye” or
Amblopia is when you can’t see
well even with your best corrected
glasses or contacts. Usually,
it is about 20/40 or less vision.
20/20 means that what the average
person sees at 20 feet, your
vision can see that also. 20/40
means what the average person
can make out at 40 feet, your
vision has to move up to 20
feet to see the same size image.
20/200 means that what the average
person can see at 200 feet,
your vision has to move up to
20 feet to see the same size image,
and so on.
How does a “lazy eye”
develop?
We are not born with 20/20
vision. Best estimates from
research say we are around
20/2000 to 20/400 at or near
birth. We don’t see colors well
either, mostly black and white.
We get to 20/20 and color vision
with normal development
in a few years. As an infant, we
learn to use the information
(light) coming into our eyes. If
there is a problem, like one eye
that has a very high prescription
and one that does not, an eye
turn (called strabismus that is
commonly mistaken for a “lazy
eye”), or congenital conditions
then the brain does not process
or use the information coming
from that eye and shuts down
that information. The signal is
still there, the brain just doesn’t
use that information well.
Is an eye turn a “lazy eye”?
No. An eye turn (strabismus)
is just that, a turn. In,
out, up, down, all the time,
sometimes, occasionally, etc. A
strabismus may cause an amblyopia,
but all the studies show
that it is rare for a strabismus
22 Healthy Living | Fall Issue | 2017