What actually are lazy eyes, and how are they caused?!

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'Lazy eye' is a common name for amblyopia, which is where there is poor vision in one eye that is in every way physically normal. I should in fact be called 'lazy brain' because it is the brain that causes the sight to be indistinct, not the eye itself. It's caused by poor of the visual stimulation through the optic nerve to the brain. This is why many people have an eye patch to cover the good eye and help stimulate the nerve pathways. As far as I know the pathways between that particular eye and the brain do not develop as well as they should while the child is growing, so it happens at that stage rather than later.

'Lazy eye' is also incorrectly used to describe strabismus, which is where the eyes are not properly aligned. This is to do with muscles controlling the eye and them being uncoordinated, but can also be caused by the brain not telling the eyes to align properly. It can affect sight because it reduces the ability that the eyes have to perceive depth - something we take for granted.

A lazy eye is an eye that doesnt follow properly as you turn your head or look the other way. It is always playing catch-up to your good eye. If the person moves there eyes to the right say, their good eye will move normally and then you will see the other one moave across slower until it has reached where it should be. I dont know what causes it though. My mum has always told me I have a lazy eye, when infact I have a droopy eyelid and I think people get these the two complaints confused.