Any experts on lazy eye?

[messystressy]

My DD is 4.5 and was diagnosed with a lazy eye a year ago, as we noticed one eye would drift when she was tired. Her eyes were tested, one eye slight prescription (+ 2.5) and the other was + 6.75. She has been wearing patches for three to four hours a day for about 9 months. So we went in today to have her eyes tested and prescription checked and her bad eye has improved only to + 6.25. I was disappointed, after all the patching. Then the dr said "oh the glasses don't improve the lazy eye". I'm so confused - I though patches WERE to try and strengthen lazy eyes? Any experts who have been through this who could advise and possibly offer some success stories for patching?

[Diddlydokey]

I've been through it as a child. Specs did the job though and my eyesight has improved most years until now at age 30.

The patch was ineffective and my parents made the decision to stop using it after disappointing results. I was upset by it and they weighed it up.

[Imnotaslimjim]

The patches are worn over the good eye to force the lazy eye to work.

I'm a little confused though, you said the sr said "oh the GLASSES don't improve the lazy eye" then say "I thought the PATCHES were to try and strengthen the lazy eye. So he's right, the glasses don't fix the turn, they improve the vision

[messystressy]

Oh sorry, the dr said the PATCHES weren't to fix the lazy eye.

I did my usual "right....ok....yes" then went home and thought "what?".

[SaveSomeSpendSome]

Im not an expert but i did have this problem as a child.

I refused to wear the patch and my mum gave up on the battle trying to make me wear it.

It corrected itself in the end. I think i was about 7ish and the body learns to control it itself

[Ilikesweetpeas]

My DD had years of patching. We were told that it didn't improve the vision but because the lazy eye was made to work the turn corrected. From having a severe turn hers is not not noticeable.

[messystressy]

Diddly - that's really interesting, especially as I am in a panic as everyone has told me the eye stops developing at 7-8 years old.

We went down the patching route as the glasses did not improve her eyesight after two months of wearing them. I guess the patches must be doing something (0.5) but it's just very slow. I admit it - I expected miracles...

[messystressy]

Sweet peas - years!? Yikes...!!

Mixed response. Interesting...

[blimeyalldecentnamesaregone]

The patches don't fix the lazy eye as in make the prescription better, but they should help the two eyes to work together to improve binocular vision.

It is the orthoptists you see at the hospital that specialise in movement of the eyes but the ophthalmologists that deal with the actual prescription itself, if that makes sense. The patches make your brain use the bad eye so that it does not forget all about it and stop using it leading to worse overall vision. That is my lay-parent take on it anyway.

With DS he wore patches all in for about 1.5years in total for between 2-6hrs per day. In the end he had the squint surgery aged 6 and has had no problems since.

The patches are worth persevering with for at least six months though as they do work for a lot of people and save having surgery. That said, I do remember the daily battle we used to have and it was not pleasant at all so I do sympathise. If your clinic has not given you cool patches there are several good ones available online which make it slightly easier.

Good luck.

[blimeyalldecentnamesaregone]

Cross posted with you OP and others.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

the patching generally will not improve the prescription, but it should improve the quality of her vision

it the brain does not get an accurate view from the eye because of an uncorrected prescription or turn/squint then the brain will effectively ignore that eye and then the vision will always be poor even if the maximum prescription is given

so the patching is to ensure the vision and resolution develops properly in the weaker eye and also that both eyes work together. ...for stereoscopic (3d/depth perception) vision.

[messystressy]

Thanks both, I understand a lot better. God knows I should be an expert by now, with so many appointments at the hospital about this but it was just the dr comment today which threw me.

Sorry, one more question if I can: is surgery just to adjust the cosmetic appearance of the squint (but eyesight still reduced and needing glasses?).

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

yes, and also to try and limit any issues with double vision.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

hah...cross posting all over with rapidlyoscillating

[messystressy]

Five years patching! Holy cow!!!

No, thanks all, so very helpful - should have opened my mouth at the hospital today. I'm not bothered about the physical squint, it's not bad at all, more the patching. She is starting to hate it. I get "can I take it off yet?" every five minutes - but has been good as gold for the last seven months or so. I can tell the different patching is making when we see the orthoptics - but now I understand why I didn't see a major prescription change today.

[stareatthetvscreen]

i am old but i had this as a child.my vision now is fine but only one eye is used so patches/glasses didn't make any difference.

i also had the op as a child - this was a cosmetic success.

i think medical belief now is that it is an issue in the brain and muscle connection to the eye - in the developing foetus rather than a problem with the eye itself.

you wouldn't know i had a problem. :)

[Treeandme]

Hi, I came across your post and wondered if your daughter was given her full prescription of +6.75 or lower to get an improvement of 0.5 diopters in 9 months. My boy has a prescription of +1 and +5 and has been wearing his glasses full time for 2.5 months. His amblyopia has improved but still has 2 lines to go. So, I just wonder if it is at all possible to reduce his diopters with a full prescription for the glasses. Did you also get the amblyopia fully corrected? Thank you!

[underneaththeash]

@Treeandme

Hi, I came across your post and wondered if your daughter was given her full prescription of +6.75 or lower to get an improvement of 0.5 diopters in 9 months. My boy has a prescription of +1 and +5 and has been wearing his glasses full time for 2.5 months. His amblyopia has improved but still has 2 lines to go. So, I just wonder if it is at all possible to reduce his diopters with a full prescription for the glasses. Did you also get the amblyopia fully corrected? Thank you!

You cannot improve the prescription (ie the amount of dioptres) by wearing glasses/patching.
It will hopefully reduce the amblyopia (the amount of lines they can see on the chart). Your DD's prescription should improve slightly in her teens, but unless she has refractive surgery when she's older, she will still have one very long sighted eye.