Lazy eye in children may go unnoticed — when is an eye check-up needed?
Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a condition where the brain fails to process visual input from one eye, often going unnoticed in children. Experts emphasize the need for universal childhood screening to ensure early detection and treatment before visual development is complete.
Why it matters
Early intervention is critical for preventing permanent vision loss in children, yet many cases remain undiagnosed due to a lack of routine screening programs.
Amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye, occurs when the brain does not adequately process visual input from one eye. The visual pathway may appear anatomically normal, but the input reaching the brain is poorly coordinated or insufficient for normal visual development.
The condition can develop because of an uncorrected refractive error such as farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism. Misalignment of the eyes, as in squint, can affect binocular vision. Congenital cataract, corneal opacity and other conditions that obstruct visual input can also cause stimulus-deprivation amblyopia.
Amblyopia is estimated to affect about 2% to 4% of children below five years. The actual burden could be higher because many children have no obvious symptoms.
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