Lazy eyes are quite common, and are also not difficult to fix. It develops when vision in one eye is stifled. Vision might be suppressed if a child can't see as well with one eye because of issues with distance vision, and in some cases, astigmatism, or something that's obstructing clear sight in that eye. Along with corrective glasses, one of the treatment options involves putting an eye patch on your child's eye for a number of hours per day to stimulate vision in the lazy eye. So how does wearing a patch really remedy the problem? Basically, wearing an eyepatch helps your child's brain to better communicate with the weaker eye, which, after some time, will help that eye get stronger.
In some cases, it can be extremely difficult to have your child fitted with an eye patch, especially if they are too young to really comprehend the treatment process. When the good eye is covered, it makes it harder for your child to see. It may be tricky to justify the process to a young child; that they need to wear the patch to help their weaker eye, but not being able to see well is precisely the thing that makes patches so difficult. But don't worry; there are a number of tricks to encourage your child to wear their patch. For preschoolers, you may find success by using a sticker chart. Eye patch manufacturers understand the issue; patches are sold in lots of kid-friendly colors and patterns. Take advantage of all the options and make it fun by allowing them to select a new and fun patch each day. For older children, tell them about the helpfulness of patching, and talk about it as an exercise to help their eye.
Patches are great and can be very helpful, but it depends on you to keep focused on the goal of improving your child's vision and ultimately, their quality of life.
