Eye Exercises for Amblyopia

Poor vision in one eye can cause the brain to begin ignoring signals from that eye. When this happens, the eye may drift inward or outward because of weakening and lack of use. The resulting condition is known as amblyopia or "lazy eye," according to the Mayo Clinic. This condition is among the leading causes of vision problems in children, affecting about 3 percent of them, but certain therapy exercises can improve or correct it.

Patching

• Patching is a common therapy for amblyopia patients, according to University of Iowa Health Care.

  Place a patch over the good eye for several weeks or even months to improve the condition. The patch forces the lazy eye to work on its own and begin receiving signals from the brain in order to see. The exercise strengthens the eye muscles and in many cases will eventually correct vision. It is possible that you will have to do occasional patching for an extended period of time after vision is restored.

  If a child's lazy eye is due to farsightedness, then he or she might require glasses to fix the problem.

Eye Dropping

• Place specially formulated eye drops into the good eye to intentionally blur the vision in it, according to University of Iowa Health Care.

  Eye dropping will result in the same exercise for the lazy eye. With the vision impaired temporarily in the good eye, the lazy eye will be forced to become the primary source of sight. The brain will recognize this, and the muscles will have to work harder to accomplish it. Speak with a doctor about using eye drops for this condition as an alternative to wearing an eye patch.

Games and Puzzles

• There's no reason not to have a little fun while exercising your eyes.

  Stock up on crossword puzzles, video games, and books with small print, according to University of Iowa Health Care. These activities will force the eyes to work together and will strengthen the weaker eye naturally. You also may choose to wear a patch during these activities, to give the lazy eye an intense workout. Spend an hour or more per day on these types of activities to ensure that the eye is getting plenty of action.

Get Treatment Early

• If your child appears to have a lazy eye developing, get treatment for it immediately.

  If successful treatments are completed before the age of 9, it is likely that the child will have a full recovery from amblyopia, according to University of Iowa Health Care.

  Waiting until after age 9 may mean that a complete restoration of normal vision cannot take place. Have your children take regular eye exams and vision screening to prevent potential vision loss.