How to Fix a Lazy Eye: Treatment Options and Costs

Amblyopia, sometimes called “lazy eye" or “wandering eye," is a condition in which the vision in one eye is compromised due to a refractive deficiency, an occlusion such as a cataract or weakness in the muscles around the eye (also called strabismus).¹ The eyes are unable to work together to send good visual signals to the brain, often causing blurred vision. In time, the brain learns to rely on signals from the “strong" eye, leaving the weaker eye to atrophy.²

Lazy eye affects approximately 3% of children from birth to 7 years of age, and is the leading cause of vision problems in children, in some cases causing total or partial blindness in one eye. Amblyopia typically affects one eye, but rarely both — and the condition is not always obvious. An eye exam is needed to properly diagnose amblyopia.³

Lazy eye causes

The exact cause of a patient's lazy eye isn't always known, but sometimes other vision issues can develop into amblyopia, as the brain attempts to “work around" the weaker eye and rely on the vision signals from the dominant eye.²

Vision conditions that can lead to amblyopia include:²

• Refractive amblyopia. Common vision issues like uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness or an astigmatism (uneven curvature of the eye surface) can create a difference in the sharpness of vision between the eyes and result in lazy eye.
• Strabismus. The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance or weakness in the muscles that position the eyes, which prevents both eyes from working together as one eye may cross in or turn out.
• Occlusion. When vision is blocked by a cataract or cloudy lens, the brain is unable to receive a clear visual stimulus. Though cataracts are most often seen in older people, babies and children can also develop cataracts, which require immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.

Lazy eye symptoms

Common symptoms of lazy eye include:¹

• One eye that turns inward or outward
• Eyes that appear to not work together
• Difficulty focusing on objects
• Poor depth perception
• Squinting or shutting one eye to see better
• Tilting the head
• Abnormal results from vision screening

Increased risks of lazy eye are associated with premature birth or small size at birth, a family history of amblyopia or other vision conditions and developmental disabilities.²

Patients living with lazy eye are prone to experiencing more accidents, due to impaired depth perception. Children may suffer from bullying and low-self-esteem as a result of the appearance of a lazy eye and experience increased instances of shame and depression.¹

Can You Fix a Lazy Eye?

Lazy eye can be corrected with proper treatment and, ideally, early diagnosis.⁴

Treatment for amblyopia is most effective for children under the age of 7, the period of development when the neural pathways connecting the eyes to the brain are formed. Treatment for lazy eye can still be effective in older children, teenagers and adults, so it's worth discussing with a healthcare provider, regardless of a patient's age.³ Left untreated, amblyopia could result in partial or complete blindness in the impacted eye as well as other life-long vision problems, affecting a patient's overall quality of life.

Diagnosing lazy eye is a painless, relatively simple process with several corrective treatments available to improve vision strength and overall eye health.

How to Fix a Lazy Eye

The earlier amblyopia is diagnosed and a patient begins treatment, the more effective treatments will be in strengthening the eye muscles and improving vision coordination.

Diagnosing lazy eye is a painless, relatively simple process with several corrective treatments available to improve vision strength and overall eye health.

Ideally, diagnosis and treatments would occur before the age of 8.¹

Non-surgical treatments for lazy eye⁴

• Corrective eyewear. If a child's amblyopia is attributed to nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, an optometrist or ophthalmologist will typically write a prescription for corrective glasses.

• Eye patches. Covering the stronger eye with an eye patch for two to six or more hours per day can help to stimulate the weaker eye. Treatment will vary based on the age of the patient, the degree to which the eye was turned and when the patient was diagnosed. Decorated patches for children can encourage young patients to wear their patch for the prescribed length of time.

• Bangerter filter. If the patient already wears eyeglasses, a Bangerter filter can be attached to the eyeglass lens of the stronger eye to blur the vision in the dominant eye, stimulating the non-dominant eye.

• Eye drops. A prescription medication called atropine can be used to temporarily blur the vision in the dominant eye, forcing the weaker eye to become stronger. Eye drops may be prescribed for weekend or daily use and are generally considered easier for a child than an eye patch. Side effects of atropine may include light sensitivity or eye irritation.
• Vision Exercises. Vision therapy with games and exercises designed to improve vision can strengthen the muscles of the affected eye. Activities may include coloring in special workbooks, dot-to-dot drawing, building blocks, word games, puzzles, reading or some video games designed specifically for improving vision. These may be done in combination with other treatments.

Cost of non-surgical lazy eye treatments⁵

Treatment for lazy eye is usually covered by most health insurance plans as it's not considered a cosmetic treatment.

For patients with insurance, out-of-pocket costs may include copays, prescription copays or coinsurance of 10% to 50%.

For patients without health insurance, prescription eyeglasses and follow-up monitoring by a healthcare professional are usually under $1,000. Eye patches and Bangerter filters are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $10 to $20 each. Prescription eye drops such as atropine may range in price from $25 to $60. Vision therapy to attempt to align the eye properly may cost $2,000 or more.

Surgical treatments for lazy eye

While an optometrist or ophthalmologist may first prescribe non-surgical treatments to correct a lazy eye, they may ultimately recommend surgical repair to reduce the long-term risk of vision loss.¹

Strabismus surgery can be performed on adults or children. It aims to better align and straighten the eyes by repositioning the muscles around the affected eye as needed.

There are two types of strabismus surgery:⁶

• Recession. The eye muscle is cut and reattached in a weaker position further away from the front of the eyeball in order to reduce the resting tension of the muscle.
• Resection. Strengthens muscle function by removing a portion of the muscle and then reattaching it to its original position on the eyeball, not unlike removing part of a rubber band, but stretching it to its original length.

Surgery can also help correct a lazy eye caused by deprivation amblyopia, in which vision is blocked by a droopy eyelid, cataract or a corneal ulcer.

Cost of strabismus surgery⁷

Strabismus surgery costs will vary based on geographic location, but typically can run between $5,000 and $10,000 without insurance. Because strabismus is considered a medically necessary surgery and not cosmetic, most insurance plans will cover a good portion of the surgery — minus deductibles — greatly offsetting out-of-pocket costs.

Factors that can affect the cost of strabismus surgery include:

• Hospital location
• In- or out-of-network doctor or surgeon
• Surgeon's credentials, experience and area of expertise (ophthalmologist or ocular surgeon)
• Severity of the condition
• Pre- and post-surgical care
• Anesthesiologist fees
• Surgical facility fees
• Type of sutures used: Standard sutures involve a permanent knot. Adjustable sutures use a temporary knot. Once the proper alignment is determined by the surgeon, the adjustable suture is made permanent by the surgeon. Adjustable sutures are more time-consuming and require longer time in the operating room and in postoperative recovery, but the outcomes are generally considered to be superior and therefore more expensive.

If you're concerned about your child's vision and suspect they may have amblyopia, don't put off seeing a health care professional for a vision screening. The sooner you receive a diagnosis, the sooner treatment can begin and the more likely it is to be effective.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Lazy Eye Treatment

Whether you’re paying for eye surgery or getting an eye exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for care where your insurance leaves off.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a vision specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to vision care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, cosmetic, pet care, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Anne-Marie Kennedy is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, personal finance, and real estate/investing.