Amblyopia describes a failure of an eye to develop good vision. Some causes of amblyopia include crossed or turned eyes (strabismus), congenital cataracts, cloudy corneas, droopy eyelids, unequal vision and uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Patients with amblyopia lack the ability to blend the images of both eyes together (stereopsis). Patients without stereopsis have difficulty perceiving depth and have a decreased ability to judge distances.

Signs of amblyopia include poor vision in one or both eyes, squinting or closing one eye while reading or watching television or turning or tilting the head when looking at an object. The treatment depends on the underlying problem. In some cases, the stronger eye is temporarily patched so the child is forced to use the weaker eye. For children with problems relating to a refractive error, glasses may be needed to correct the vision. Problems that impair vision, such as cataracts or droopy eyelids, often require surgery.

What is most vital for amblyopia is early detection and intervention. Because children are able to adapt easily to most visual impairments, they rarely complain of poor vision. Parents must be observant of young children and should be sure they have a routine eye exam performed by the age of two to detect potential problems. (It is recommended that children have their first eye examination at six months.)

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