“Can lazy eye go away?”

Unfortunately Lazy Eye does not go away. Lazy Eye means that the vision in the eye did not develop normally. This occurs from 2 reasons either the eye was not straight during the developmental period (birth to age 7), or it did not have clear vision. Either way after age 7 the eye and brain are less pliable, in regards to vision, and the eye remains lazy in its ability. However if it was turned, it can be straightened surgically, but there is no guarantee that it will stay straight without some vision therapy and or the correct prescription, and the vision usually will not improve.

Amblyopia is usually amenable to treatment in children under the age of nine or ten with patching, correative lenses and/or atropine eye drops. The earlier treatment is initiated, the better the results.

A "lazy eye" or strabismus is a serious condition. Please get your daughter evaluated *this week*. When the eye is turned in or out, the brain isn't using it. This can be due to a higher prescription in that eye, a muscle imbalance, cataract, or other factors causing poor vision. By correcting an eye turn at a young age (before age 3) there is a high chance for normal neurological development. Correction for strabismus may be as simple as glasses, vision therapy, or surgery for cases of a large angle (very obvious eye turn.)

A lazy eye can go away within the first 6 months of life, but if an eye turn or imbalance of prescriptions between the eyes continues beyond 6 months - 1 year, it will need to treated with with glasses/contact lenses along with either vision therapy and/or strabismus surgery. Find a Developmental Optometrist or Ophthalmologist to seek early Intervention.