The most common cause is crossed eyes or strabismus . This is amblyopia, or lazy eye. Any eye disease that prevents a clear image from being focused inside the eye can lead to amblyopia in a child. It is also possible for children to inherit from their parents conditions that lead to amblyopia. Treatment may involve glasses to correct blurred vision or help straighten the eyes and patching the good eye to force the lazy eye to work.
Surgery is often necessary as well to mechanically realign the eyes.
Exercises or other types of visual training alone will not be effective in reversing the amblyopia. The Parents' Role Untreated amblyopia means a lifetime of poor vision in one eye that cannot be improved and parents play a key role in ensuring this does not happen. Only a trained professional can diagnose amblyopia. Many children with amblyopia look completely normal and see well with their remaining normal eye. If amblyopia is diagnosed and glasses or an eye patch prescribed, it is important that the doctor's instructions be strictly followed-sometimes not an easy task with a small child.