Can an eye patch really help a lazy eye?!
Question: Can an eye patch really help a lazy eye?
I also have prescription glasses AND contacts, but I also have astigmatism.
Answers:
Since you are concerned about appearance, I assume by "lazy" you mean an eye that turns in or out. That is not a lazy eye, it is strabismus. Lazy eye is the term for amblyopia, which is an eye that does not see well even with glasses. Sometimes an amblyopic eye is also turned but not always.
Patching the better eye will improve the vision with glasses in an amblyopic eye but should be done before age 6, Patching a strabismic eye will not make it turn less and carries quite a risk of making the eye turn worse.
I'm an optometrist
as others have stated, patching can increase the ACUITY (vision) of an amblyopic eye, especially in children under 8. not usually effective after that.
however:
patching *DOES NOT* "straighten" a crossed eye. so if your "cosmetics" is that you wish 1 eye didn't point in a funny direction...NO. patching WILL NOT fix that.
and also as others have said, no one should patch on their own. need doc supervision. could cause more harm than good in some cases if not performed properly
optometrist
http://myeyepod.blogspot.com/
It's rather doubtful patching would make any difference now at your age.
Patching should never be done on your own anyway. A schedule has to be set by your eye Dr. as to how many hours a day , how many days a week...ect, it should be done.
Doing it wrong can be detrimental to the better eye.
Patching may not have helped your case at all to begin with , or your eye Dr. would have suggested it years ago.
Optician
Eye patching increases the acuity of the good eye, but may not be that useful at 16, they should of started treating it before the age of 8. Anyway consult your eye doctor.
Good luck
Eye care specialist.
Yes it can, but it should have used when you were much younger.