When using a patch for "lazy-eye", when does the doctor know when to s!
Question: Do you stop using the patch when the weaker eye becomes strong enough to be the dominant eye ?
Answers: Do you stop using the patch when the weaker eye becomes strong enough to be the dominant eye ?
First let's get some things straight. Lazy Eye is NOT the condition where the eye turns or wanders. That is called strabismus. Lazy Eye is also called amblyopia and it is the condition that exists when the vision in one eye does not develop to the same level as the other eye. There are various reasons why amblyopia (lazy eye) occurs, but essentially the visual pathway from one eye to the brain is not stimulated enough to allow it to develop. In theory patching the better eye forces the nerves and the pathway of the lazy eye to be used, stimulated and to develop. We want to see improvement in the vision of the lazy eye. There may be visits where no improvement is seen and if the vision levels off on 2 or 3 consecutive visits, then the doctor will probably discontinue the patch. If the vision in the lazy eye actually improves to the point where it equals the other eye then the doctor will continue to monitor the eyes to be sure that they 1. are working together and 2. maintain equal vision.
A turned or wandering eye can exist at the same time as a lazy eye, and in some cases correcting the misalignment will assist in the treatment of the lazy eye.
Hope this helps.
OK, I am very able to answer this, as my 9 year old son just had eye surgery for strabismus (Lazy Eye) last month. Basically, we did try the patching for a few months. This did nothing other than upset him terribly, and it seemed to increase the problem as well. I think the doctors are forced to do this before they will consider treatment. I think we did it a few months, and then we told the Dr. we were not seeing improvement. When the doctor told you to patch, he should have set a date for a follow up appt. to check and see if it helped.
When we told the dr. the patching didn't help, they suggested glasses. However, they tested him further, and just from that, could determine that glasses weren't going to help either. If you are not seeing an improvement from the patching, chances are, it's not working. You need to press your doctor for surgery, if you want this problem corrected, and if you aren't seeing results any other way.
My son did just fine with surgery. They had to do it on BOTH eyes even though only the left one was affected, because the BRAIN is causing the problem not the eye itself. He was very upset when he woke up from surgery, but by the next day, he was already trying to play with his legos, and watch movies. I would say, you know in your gut if it is working or not. Fight to get the surgery if that is what you want. I am very glad we did it. He still has the eye wandering ONLY while being tested looking at something in the distance, with the other eye covered, or if he's just waking up. But we never see the "lazy eye" anymore in normal conversation like we used to. He once told me he was tired of other kids telling him he looked like an alien. Getting the surgery was a great option for us.
Patching for "lazy eye" can stop either when it helps the strabismus or when there is no point in continuing.
There is no point in continuing when the child reaches a certain point in development where patching can no longer be effective treatment.