what causes a lazy eye
Less common conditions that can cause a lazy eye include: 1  an eye disease such as a sore on the transparent layer at the front of the eye (corneal ulcer) or a scar. 2  childhood cataracts â clouding of the lens of the eye that's present from birth. 3  a droopy eyelid (ptosis)
Common causes of the condition include: 1  Muscle imbalance (strabismus). The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles that position the eyes. 2  Difference in sharpness of vision between the eyes (refractive anisometropia).
In some children lazy eye is caused by a combination of strabismus and refractive problems. Deprivation. Any problem with one eye â such as a cloudy area in the lens (cataract) â can deprive a child of clear vision in that eye. Deprivation amblyopia in infancy requires urgent treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.