Early treatment of lazy eye key for ‘bright' furture

Time of India

26-04-2025

Hyderabad: A recent study, jointly conducted by the doctors of the
LV Prasad Eye Institute
(LVPEI) and Queensland University in Australia, found that the adverse effects of lazy eye (
amblyopia
) and
squint
(strabismus) can persist into adulthood if not treated early.
Typically considered paediatric conditions that develop in early childhood, these issues affect a patient's reading ability, motor skills, quality of life, and more. Doctors warn that these conditions can also lead to psychological impacts, including low self-esteem, reduced confidence, increased anxiety, and depression.
The study was conducted to determine the extent of the effect of these two conditions on the patients. Researchers pointed out that the existing clinical establishments for lazy eye and squinting were insufficient to fully evaluate their effects on a patient's reading proficiency and driving ability.
Titled 'Fine Motor Skills, Reading Speed, and Self-Reported Quality of Life in Adults with Amblyopia and/or Strabismus', the study was published in an online journal, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS).
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In case of lazy eye, a person's eye does not develop regular vision during early childhood. Doctors explain that the condition arises from defects in the way information is transmitted from the eye to the brain. As a result, the brain relies more on the healthy eye, causing the affected eye to be neglected and ultimately impaired.
The study included 95 participants, aged 18 to 40, from the LVPEI's Bhubaneswar centre. These included 23 adults with a lazy eye, 20 with a squint, and 52 with both amblyopia and strabismus. None of the participants had any prior ocular (eye) or neurological disorders. Another 19 individuals with normal vision were included to set up a comparison.
After conducting various tests on participant's motor skills and reading proficiency, doctors found that all the participants with a lazy eye, squint, or both performed 'below average' or 'well below average' in comparison to those with normal vision.
A 2023 survey, conducted by the institutue on the school-going children (4 to 15 years) in Telangana, found that of the 7.74 lakh children who were screened, around 9,000 (1.16%) suffered from visual impairment. At present, the state implements Union govt-sponsored National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) to support visually impaired people.
Dr Debasmita Majhi, Consultant Ophthalmologist, LVPEI, said, "The lazy eye usually manifests during childhood. It often develops into a squint, which is misaligned, pointing inwards or outwards. But both conditions can also exist independently."
"The reading speed of those with lazy eyes and/or squint was also significantly slower. Most participants say that the inability to see with both eyes (low binocular function) is their biggest hindrance. Strabismus (squint) was also found to be a predominant reason for the affected people to have low confidence," said Dr Vivek Warkad, Consultant Pediatric, Strabismus, LVPEI.
Doctors stressed that a early diagnosis and treatment of lazy eye during childhood are critical, as untreated conditions can have lifelong consequences.