Adult Strabismus/Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Why it isn’t too late to get treated

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s natural ability to adapt, reorganize, and form new connections throughout life. This means that even in adulthood, the brain can continue to improve and develop. For individuals with strabismus and amblyopia, neuroplasticity offers hope—through targeted therapies and exercises, the brain can strengthen visual pathways, improve coordination between the eyes, and enhance overall visual function.

Strabismus occurs when one eye does not align with the spot a person is looking at. This misalignment can take different forms:

• Exotropia: the eye turns outward

• Esotropia: the eye turns inward

• Hypertropia: the eye turns upward or downward
  
  

Adult Strabismus can appear at birth or develop later in life due to infections, trauma, diabetes, tumors, or other conditions. When the eyes are not aligned, a person may experience:

• Double vision

• Suppression of one eye to avoid double vision

• Loss of depth perception (3D vision)

• Poor binocular coordination (eye teaming)
  
  

Amblyopia—often called “lazy eye”—happens when one or both eyes do not develop clear vision. Causes include strabismus, unequal or high prescriptions, astigmatism, nutritional deficiencies, or early developmental issues such as congenital cataracts. Even with glasses, the affected eye(s) cannot achieve 20/20 vision.
​​​​​​​
Surgery may straighten the eyes cosmetically, but it rarely restores normal binocular vision and comes with the risks of reoccurence. The most effective long-term solution is vision therapy, which retrains the eyes and brain to work together. With therapy, both clarity of vision and eye coordination can improve dramatically.