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Amblyopia (pronounced AM-BLEE-ÓH-PEE-UH), or lazy eye, is a serious public health problem and the leading cause of monocular blindness in America. Vision loss from amblyopia occurs when focusing problems, eye misalignment, or diseases of the eye interfere with normal development of the brain’s vision center (eye-brain “wiring”) during childhood. Only during the critical period of brain development early in life can the detection and treatment of amblyopia prevent life-long vision loss. After age nine, it is generally too late to restore vision.

It is estimated that 5 million adults have irreversible vision loss due to amblyopia. Over 40 million children in the United States are at risk for permanent vision loss. The good news is blindness from amblyopia can be prevented. Treatment as simple as an eye patch or glasses is all that is usually needed to restore vision. The problem is all too often amblyopia is not detected in time.