eye surgery to correct wandering eye

What to Expect With Amblyopia Surgery

In this article

What to Expect For Lazy Eye Surgery?

The surgical treatments available to people with amblyopia don’t directly address the condition. Instead, they fix possible underlying causes like:

• Droopy eyelids
• Corneal scars

Strabismus surgery is one of the most common procedures for amblyopia. It repairs the muscles responsible for keeping the eyes aligned. It also weakens or strengthens them to change the position of the lazy eye.

Doctors generally don’t recommend surgical procedures for adults. If they do, it’s usually for cosmetic reasons and to improve depth perception. Lazy eye surgery is generally more common and effective in children.

Do You Need to Correct a Lazy Eye?

Lazy eye should be corrected as soon as possible, specifically during visual development between birth and 7 years of age. If the condition isn’t treated, it can lead to permanent vision loss or decreased depth perception.

Treatment is more effective in children, so doctors advise parents to bring their kids in for routine checkups every year. Early detection is key as the condition is more challenging to treat after age 6. 

Available treatment options for lazy eye include:

• Corrective eyewear. Prescription eyeglasses correct problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism that can cause a lazy eye.
• Eye patch. This can be placed over the eye with better vision to stimulate the weaker eye. It also improves alignment and binocular vision.
• Bangerter filter. A special filter that is placed on the eyeglass lens of the stronger eye.
• Eyedrops. A medication called atropine, or Isopto Atropine, can temporarily blur vision in the stronger eye. 
• Eye muscle surgery. This procedure can correct underlying conditions that cause lazy eyes and prevent permanent vision loss.

Side Effects and Risks of Lazy Eye Surgery

After surgery, the eye can feel sore and appear red. Other common side effects include:

• Light sensitivity
• Matting of lashes
• Double vision

These symptoms can last from 2 days to a few weeks, depending on the person’s recovery speed.

Severe Side Effects of Lazy Eye Surgery

More severe side effects that can be a cause for concern include:

• Green or yellow discharge
• Vision loss
• Worsening pain
• Increased swelling
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Scar tissue growth

Other serious but less common complications of lazy eye surgery include bleeding, muscle detachment, and scarring. Call your doctor immediately if you notice these symptoms within the first week after surgery. This is a common time for infections and problems to occur.

Risks of Lazy Eye Surgery

Adjusting the eye muscles can make correcting a lazy eye easier. However, there are risks associated with surgery for amblyopia, including:

• Needing glasses indefinitely to see properly
• Partial or complete failure of the procedure

There may also be a recurrence of strabismus. When this happens, you’ll need multiple surgeries to address the issue.

How to Prepare for Surgery

If you need surgery to treat amblyopia, your ophthalmologist will plan a procedure based on the following:

• Eye examinations
• Eye muscle testing
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan

You might need to undergo specific tests to evaluate conditions like congenital cataracts. You’ll also need to discuss specifics with your healthcare provider, such as if the surgery uses a laser. 

You may be prohibited from eating certain foods and drinks that could affect the type of anesthesia used. They may also tell you to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners and anti-inflammatory medications. 

Lastly, you’ll need to avoid wearing makeup or eye makeup.

Before Surgery

Before getting lazy eye surgery, a person should consult their primary care doctor and the doctor who will perform the surgery. They can provide critical care information about pre- and post-surgery healing. 

Before surgery, you will also undergo preoperative testing that includes:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Chest X-rays

These tests are necessary for the anesthesiologist to refer to during the surgery. You’ll need to share information about any allergies, current medications, and family health history with the doctor. 

A child’s parent or guardian will need to sign a consent form. They will also have to stay in the waiting area during the procedure.

What Should You Know Before Going Into Surgery?

Children cannot take aspirin or ibuprofen 2 weeks before the surgery. They should also avoid vaccinations of any kind a day before the procedure.

Infants and children under 13 can eat solid foods up to 8 hours before the surgery. Breast milk and clear liquids are allowed until 4 hours and 2 hours, respectively, before surgery.

Adolescents and adults can’t have anything to eat or drink at least 8 hours before the procedure. They should also stop taking any medications 2 hours before.

Doctors also cannot perform surgery on you if you’re experiencing:

• Upper respiratory congestion
• Sore throat

During Surgery

The surgery takes approximately 45 minutes to 2 hours under general anesthesia. The duration depends on the type of surgery and whether one or both eyes need correction.

During the procedure, an eyelid speculum holds the eye open. This allows the surgeon to make a small incision on the membrane covering the whites of the eye. They will either detach or reattach the muscles to the eye through this opening.

The surgeon will then close the incision with stitches that dissolve on their own. Adults might need adjustable sutures, which shorten or lengthen the muscle for further alignment within 24 hours after surgery.

After Surgery 

Recovering from anesthesia can take several hours. If the surgeon needs to make any adjustments post-op, they will apply numbing eye drops. 

After the adjustment, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics and steroid drops to prevent infection and treat inflammation. They might also prescribe drops to dilate the pupil.

It takes the eye 6 weeks to fully heal. Postoperative checkups are required a day after the procedure. The second checkup is due 5 days after surgery, and the third is after 4 to 6 weeks. 

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Surgery?

Children and adults can return to normal daily activities a few days after surgery. 

However, for at least 2 weeks, children and/or adults should avoid:

• Contact sports
• Swimming in pools or lakes
• Playing in sandboxes
• Operating heavy equipment

The doctor can assess the procedure’s success once the eye heals completely. 

Listen In Q&A Format

Lazy eye treatments, vision center podcast.

Is Lazy Eye Surgery Worth It?

Surgery doesn’t directly address the cause of amblyopia, but it can be part of the solution for this complex condition. Benefits of this procedure include:

• Improved physical appearance
• Reduced eye strain and/or fatigue
• Better functionality between the eyes and other facial structures
• Fewer difficulties during lazy eye therapy
• Enhanced depth perception

Talk with your doctor about whether or not lazy eye surgery is right for you. Examining the benefits and potential risks before opting for an invasive procedure is essential.

What Causes a Lazy Eye? 

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is when someone has poor or decreased vision in one eye. Approximately 2 to 4 percent of the U.S. population has this condition. 

Amblyopia occurs when the brain fails to coordinate nerve signals from the affected eye. This causes it to rely on the stronger eye and stop using the weaker one.

A lazy eye can develop until late childhood. Common risk factors include: 

• Premature birth
• A family history of other eye conditions
• Developmental disabilities
• Nearsightedness
• Farsightedness
• Astigmatism
• Strabismus or crossed eyes
• Refractive amblyopia

Lazy Eye Symptoms

Symptoms of amblyopia include:

• Shutting one eye
• Persistent head turning or tilting
• Impaired depth perception
• Poor peripheral vision
• Eye shaking
• Eyes that don’t move in the same direction when focusing

How is Lazy Eye Diagnosed?

An eye exam is the only way to determine if someone has amblyopia. Parents should bring their children to the doctor for their first vision screening once they are between 3 and 5 years old.

Vision typically improves in just a few weeks after treatment. However, it can take months for vision to correct completely. Doctors will also recommend additional treatments to prevent the lazy eye from returning.

How Does a Lazy Eye Affect Vision?

Amblyopia affects the visual function of the affected eye in several ways. It can:

• Cause blurry vision
• Reduce eye movements
• Affect depth perception
• Impair reading abilities

Doctors often recommend cataract surgery if your child is born with cataracts. This is a condition that causes cloudy vision in one or both eyes.

• Lazy eye, also called amblyopia, is caused by poor nerve coordination between the brain and the eyes.
• Amblyopia can develop early on in children until late childhood, and treatment is more effective in children than adults.
• Doctors will likely recommend surgical treatment if a child is born with cataracts or develops strabismus.
• Doctors typically recommend non-surgical treatments like corrective lenses, eye patches, or atropine eye drops before lazy eye surgery.
• Surgical treatment for amblyopia doesn’t address the disconnect between the brain and the eye, but it can supplement other lazy eye treatments.

Related Articles

Strabismus Surgery

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Melody Huang, O.D.

Types of Eye Surgeries & What to Expect

LASIK Eye Surgery - Procedure, Aftercare, Risks & Costs

What is Ptosis Surgery? (Droopy Eyelid Surgery)

Lens Replacement Surgery

What to Expect with Cataract Surgery

• “ After Surgery – Postoperative Expectations for Strabismus Surgery. ” ABC Eyes Pediatric Ophthalmology PA, Pediatric Ophthalmology P.A.
• “ Amblyopia (Lazy Eye). ” National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 2019.
• Beauchamp, GR. “ Risks, Benefits, Limitations and Alternatives to Strabismus Surgery. ” ABC Eyes Pediatric Ophthalmology PA, Pediatric Ophthalmology P.A.
• Beauchamp, GR. “ What to Expect Before Strabismus (Eye Muscle) Surgery. ” ABC Eyes Pediatric Ophthalmology PA, Pediatric Ophthalmology P.A.
• “ Eye Muscle Surgery. ” UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC.
• Kuwera, E. “ Lazy Eye (Amblyopia) .” Johns Hopkins Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Health System.
• “ Surgery for Lazy Eye. ” NYU Langone Health, NYU Langone Hospitals.
• “ Treatment – Lazy eye. ” NHS, Crown, 2019.

• Find a Lasik Surgeon Near You
• Find Optometrist Near You
• Contact Lenses

Other Links

• Advertise With Us
• Privacy Policy
• Listen to the Podcast

Social Links

Centers Near You

Selected Address

NVISION Procedures

Every NVISION patient is different. We look forward to working with you to determine the best eye surgery or nonsurgical treatment for your individual needs.

• LASIK Eye Surgery
• Contoura® Vision LASIK
• EVO ICL™ (Implantable Lens)
• SMILE™ Vision Correction
• Cataract Surgery
• Comprehensive Ophthalmology
• Lifestyle Lenses
• Vivity Extended Vision IOL
• Cross-Linking
• INTACS® Corneal Implants
• Oculoplastic
• Cosmetic Treatments
• Blepharoplasty
• Dry Eye Treatments
• Glaucoma Surgery
• PDT Eye Treatment
• Monovision LASIK
• Refractive Lens Exchange
• Pterygium Surgery
• Implantable Miniature Telescope Surgery

See Your Best This Winter!

Get $1000 off LASIK + Enjoy Easy and Fast LASIK Financing.**

Nvision conditions.

• Astigmatism
• Nearsightedness
• Farsightedness
• Keratoconus
• Macular Degeneration
• Coronavirus

NVISION Education

• ‣ LASIK Candidate Quiz ‣
• All About LASIK
• LASIK Safety & Success Rates
• LASIK Eye Surgery Cost
• LASIK for Astigmatism
• How Long Does LASIK Take?
• Glasses After Cataract Surgery
• Best Lens for Cataract Surgery
• When to Get Cataract Surgery
• What to Expect: Anesthesia
• Types of Cataracts
• Types of Lenses For Cataract Surgery
• PRK Surgery
• Guide to Laser Eye Surgery
• Types of Eye Surgery
• Corneal Cross-Linking
• Improving Eyesight
• Intraocular Lens
• Survey: America’s Bad Eye Care Habits
• Diet & Vision?

NVISION Locations

Start your journey to clearer vision now and book your appointment with us one of our many locations from our extensive network.

• Inland Empire
• Los Angeles
• Orange County
• Ventura County
• Fort Lauderdale
• Port St. Lucie
• West Palm Beach
• Indianapolis
• Kansas City
• Washington DC
• Minneapolis
• Lincoln City
• Philadelphia
• Corpus Christi
• South Texas
• Salt Lake City
• Virginia Beach

Find a nearby center

Medically Reviewed by Duna Raoof, M.D.

Last Updated Aug 30, 2023

Further Reading

• Video Games Help A Lazy Eye

Fixing a Lazy Eye: Your Best Options in 2022

Home / Eye Conditions & Eye Diseases / Fixing a Lazy Eye

To fix a lazy eye, you have a few options in 2022. Your optometrist may recommend surgery. Otherwise, they will focus on noninvasive treatments like eye patches or eye drops.

Table of Contents

What is lazy eye.

• Why Does It Develop?

Living With Lazy Eye

Managing eyesight.

• How To Pick a Treatment

Lazy eye, known also by the medical term amblyopia, is a condition in which one eye loses vision due to serious refractive error, occlusion of the eye, or problems with the eye muscles (strabismus), so good visual signals are not sent to the brain. In turn, the brain focuses on the signals from the dominant eye, so the non-dominant eye atrophies.

Amblyopia is diagnosed most often in children, and treatment can begin from infancy to age 7. By the time the child is 8 years old, vision is less likely to respond to treatments, surgical or nonsurgical.

While much of the focus on treating lazy eye, or amblyopia, is often placed on children, adults too can seek solutions for this issue. Understanding how to fix lazy eyes in adults may mean learning more about surgical options. The surgical procedures to correct strabismus , for instance, can be performed in adults, and are combined with non-surgical treatments to increase the chances of improvement.

The colloquial term lazy eye refers to a condition known among optometrists and ophthalmologists as amblyopia. This condition typically begins just after birth, and it continues to develop up to 7 years old.

About 2 percent of all children in the United States are affected by amblyopia. It is the most common cause of partial or total blindness in one eye in the U.S. Lazy eye rarely affects both eyes.

Although lazy eye can result in partial blindness, which impacts overall quality of life, diagnosing it early is fairly simple. In 2022, there are several treatments that can improve eye strength and prevent blindness.

• One eye that wanders inward or outward.
• Eyes that do not seem to work together to focus on objects.
• Trouble with depth perception.
• Squinting or shutting one eye to see better or force the eyes to work together.
• Tilting the head.
• Abnormal results on vision screen tests.

The underlying issue leading to lazy eye is not a problem with the structures of the eye itself, but the connection to the brain. If a child has one eye that does not see as well as the other, the brain will focus on interpreting signals from the dominant eye, and the non-dominant eye will slowly lose its ability to see.

While many instances of lazy eye are obvious due to strabismus, there are several cases in young children in which the condition is not immediately obvious. To reduce the risk of amblyopia becoming more serious, a complete eye exam is recommended for children starting between the ages of 3 and 5.

Why Does Lazy Eye Develop?

There are several causes of lazy eye.

• Strabismus (muscle imbalance): This is an imbalance in muscle strength between the eyes, so one eye is able to move more freely than the other. This leads the eyes to cross or turn out away from each other. It prevents the eyes from tracking in a coordinated way.
• Refractive anisometropia (difference in vision sharpness between the eyes): This involves significantly different refractive errors in each eye. It is often due to farsightedness, but it is sometimes caused by nearsightedness or astigmatism. It can lead to one eye becoming stronger than the other.
• Deprivation: An early cataract, cloudiness on the cornea, or another visual problem in one eye can lead the other eye to quickly become stronger. Deprivation amblyopia in an infant is considered a serious risk and requires immediate treatment to prevent blindness.

Treatments for the Causes of Lazy Eye

Fortunately, there are treatments that improve eye coordination and strengthen the muscles of the eyes. Treatments are more effective the earlier the condition is diagnosed. After a child reaches 8 years old, on average, the likelihood of vision improvement with treatment drops significantly.

Nonsurgical Treatments

There are several nonsurgical approaches to treating lazy eye. If amblyopia is due to an underlying refractive error, the child will receive a prescription for glasses, so the affected eye can get used to seeing the world more clearly, which can improve its overall function. If the cause of amblyopia is strabismus, additional treatments

• Eye patches or eye occlusion. A patch is placed over the “good” eye, forcing the muscles in the lazy eye to develop greater strength . Since the brain still receives information from that eye, especially in younger children, it will not ignore the signals and will begin to interpret them. Treatment length will vary depending on how serious the eye’s turn was, how long it had been that way, and how old the child is. Eye patches should be comfortable and remain in place with a child’s regular level of physical activity. The child should not be able to see around the edges, including seeing light filtered through. There are decorated patches available for children to encourage them to wear the patch and help them have fun during treatment. It is important to encourage your child to leave the patch in place. If your child already has eyeglasses, there are patches that attach to the lens of one side of the glass. This may be a second stage in the treatment process after the non-dominant eye has regained some strength. These types of patches are not good for children who are new to treatment.
• Atropine eye drops. These may be applied to blur vision in the “good” eye. Like the eye patch, this forces the non-dominant eye to become stronger. Signals between that eye and the brain will become stronger. Drops are usually easier for the child than wearing an eye patch.
• Vision exercises. Games and exercises designed to improve vision can strengthen the muscles of the affected eye. Games and activities include coloring in special workbooks, dot-to-dot drawing, word games, or using building blocks, depending on how old the child is. Home-based exercises may be recommended after the weaker eye has regained some strength. These may be done in combination with other treatments.

Surgical Treatments

Although an optometrist or ophthalmologist will try less invasive treatments first, amblyopia may require surgery to treat strabismus, which is a problem with the muscles that move the eyes. This surgery can be performed in both adults and children. The surgery reduces the eye turn, so the eyes line up better, by either loosening or tightening the muscles as needed. There are two types of strabismus surgery:

• Recession, when the eye muscle is detached and reattached further from the front of the eye to weaken the muscle
• Resection, when a portion of the muscle is removed to make the muscle stronger

About 1.2 million of these types of eye surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year. It is a well-known procedure, as it is the third most common type of eye surgery in the country. Like other eye surgeries, it is a one-day procedure that is outpatient, so your child does not have to stay in the hospital and can return to school after a few days of rest.

This procedure may improve vision, but it is not guaranteed to do so. In some instances, surgery is more cosmetic. However, surgery in concert with nonsurgical treatments like eye patches may reduce the risk of long-term vision loss.

Surgical treatments may also remove corneal ulcers and cataracts, adjust drooping eyelids, or correct other tissue damage from an injury or accident that hurt the eye.

People who have lazy eye are unable to blend images together . This means they lack binocular vision and are unable to accurately assess distance. This can result in accidents as people may walk into things. When they reach out to grab something, they may grab next to the object rather than the object itself.

Children learn to adapt to the issue, so they often rely on other clues to assess depth perception.

The effects of lazy eye on quality of life differ between children and adults. For adults dealing with this condition, learning how to fix lazy eyes can lead to enhanced self-esteem and decreased feelings of frustration or shame. Children who have lazy eye are sometimes bullied by peers, resulting in reduced self-esteem.

Lazy eye is also a cosmetic issue. Surgery and other treatments that can correct the issue often improve aesthetics, helping people to feel less self-conscious and gain confidence.

Grown ups struggling with a lazy eye may wonder how to fix lazy eyes in adults. The process of managing eyesight and finding effective treatment requires close collaboration with an eye doctor and adherence to prescribed treatments, including potential surgical procedures.

If you are prescribed eyeglasses or contacts to help the issue, wear these as prescribed.

If your eye doctor recommends patch use, follow their instructions closely. The guidelines of your eye patch use will vary according to the severity of your lazy eye.

Likewise, use eye drops as prescribed. If you don’t use prescribed methods as instructed, you are less likely to see results.

Surgery can give the most dramatic improvement in your eyesight and overall appearance. Follow your eye doctor’s recommendations for pre-op and post-op care.

There is no evidence that eye exercises will improve amblyopia on their own. However, your eye doctor may recommend certain eye exercises in combination with other treatments .

Get regular eye exams, on a schedule recommended by your doctor.

Resources for Families With Visual Impairments

• National Eye Institute
• Retina Foundation
• VOC Family Support Network
• FamilyConnect

How to Pick a Treatment for Your Child’s Lazy Eye

Your child’s eye doctor will inform you on how serious lazy eye is and if underlying issues like cataract, corneal ulcers, or strabismus are dramatically impacting vision. If the condition is very serious, your child may need surgery. Additionally, if an adult has lazy eye, surgery may improve the appearance overall and could help to regain a little vision. For the most part, however, clinicians will recommend nonsurgical treatments for children, as they are noninvasive.

• Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) in Children . (March 2014). CMAJ – JAMC.
• Amblyopia: What Is Lazy Eye? (October 16, 2018). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
• Amblyopia: Lazy Eye Diagnosis & Treatment . (October 16, 2018). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
• Lazy Eye Surgery Facts . (March 4, 2017). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
• Amblyopia . Fighting Blindness.
• Amblyopia and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review . (April 2011). Eye: The Scientific Journal of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
• The Effects of Strabismus on Quality of Life in Adults . (November 2007). American Journal of Ophthalmologists.
• Short-Term Deprivation of the Amblyopic Eye, Combined With Physical Exercise, Promotes Long-Term Visual Recovery in Young Amblyopic Children . (July 2019). Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

The information provided on this page should not be used in place of information provided by a doctor or specialist. To learn more, read our Privacy Policy and Editorial Policy pages.

5 treatments to fix a lazy eye, according to an eye doctor

• You can fix a lazy eye by blurring the vision in your stronger eye, which forces you to develop the vision in your weaker eye.
• This can be done by wearing an eye patch, getting special corrective glasses, using medicated eye drops, adding a Bangerter filter to glasses, or even surgery.
• A lazy eye is usually caused by an uncorrected vision problem, an eye misalignment, or by something blocking your vision, like a droopy eyelid or scar in front of the eye. 

Amblyopia, more commonly referred to as a lazy eye, is a relatively common condition. It occurs in about 3% of children and involves one eye being weaker and having poorer vision than the other eye. 

Although there's some stigma surrounding the term "lazy eye," it's important to note that a lazy eye is not a reflection of character. It doesn't mean that you're lazy — it is an uncontrollable health issue with your eyes — and it can be treated with a number of methods. 

Without treatment, the eye will become even weaker, which is why it's so important to fix a lazy eye. Here's what you need to know about what causes a lazy eye and how to effectively treat it. 

What is a lazy eye?

A lazy eye is when there is poor vision in one eye, and vision relies on the stronger "good" eye. It is the result of a problem with the connection between the eye and the brain. A lazy eye usually develops early in life. When the vision in one eye is abnormal, neural connections, or brain signals, won't be properly stimulated, and the signals that are sent to the brain will create a blurred image, says Jill Rotruck, MD , an ophthalmologist and assistant professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine.

There are three main causes of a lazy eye , Rotruck says. They are:

• Uncorrected refractive error . This is when there is an uncorrected vision problem, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
• Strabismus . This is when the eyes are misaligned. 
• Stimulus deprivation . This is when something is blocking the vision. 

Amblyopia itself doesn't result in a change in appearance to the eye, says Rotruck. If the lazy eye is caused by an uncorrected refractive error, both eyes may appear normal.

However, in the case of strabismus, the eyes may be misaligned, with one eye wandering inward or outward. Additionally, if the amblyopia is caused by something blocking the vision, this will be visible, such as a droopy eyelid, scar in front of the eye, or cloudiness of the eye's lens. 

How to fix a lazy eye

Depending on the individual's situation, there are various ways to fix a lazy eye. While the methods are very different, they mainly have the same goal, which is to address the underlying cause and force use of the weaker eye. 

Some examples of treatment include:

1. Corrective glasses 

One way to correct a lazy eye is by using glasses that deliberately blur the image that the stronger eye sees. This is usually done by using an incorrect glasses prescription, known as optical penalization.

By blurring the image that the stronger eye sees, Rotruck says the brain will be forced to pay attention to the weaker eye, and strengthen the connection between the brain and the weaker eye. Contact lenses can be used in the same way, however, if the patient is a very young child, it's much more likely for glasses to be used. 

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, corrective glasses are a very common first-line treatment for amblyopia. This method is highly effective for amblyopia. A 2006 study showed that there was a significant improvement in 77% of participants. Furthermore, the condition was fully resolved in 27% of participants. 

2. Eye patches

Rather than blur the vision in the stronger eye, an eye patch takes away the vision in the stronger eye completely, which will also strengthen the weaker lazy eye by strengthening the connection between the brain and the weaker eye. Rotruck says treatment will vary from wearing the patch for two to six hours a day, to all day in some cases. 

This treatment has been shown to be effective. A 2006 study found that 2 hours of daily patching resulted in a modest improvement of moderate to severe amblyopia. 

3. Medicated eye drops

The most common form of medicated eye drops for lazy eyes is atropine drops . Rotruck says these work by preventing the stronger eye from focusing, which causes blurred vision. This involves putting the eye drops in the stronger eye, which forces the patient to use the weaker eye more, says Rotruck. These drops are typically prescribed to be used two days a week. 

Two 2009 studies found that weekend atropine eye drop was effective in improving severe amblyopia over the course of 18 weeks. 

4. Bangerter filter

A Bangerter filter is another way to blur the better-seeing eye's vision. This is a special type of filter that is put on the lens of the glasses of the better eye, making the view through the lens hazy, says Rotruck.

This forces the lazy eye to be used more. The filter will be used until the patient's eye doctor determines that the treatment is no longer needed. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this method is not as popular as the others.

A 2009 study found that using a Bangerter filter along with corrective lenses works more quickly than using corrective lenses alone.

In some cases, surgery is necessary for amblyopia if the cause is stimulus deprivation, meaning something getting in the way of the vision such as a droopy eyelid, cataracts, or scarring.

"Clearing the obstruction will allow clear signals to reach the brain and the brain to learn how to see normally out of each eye," says Rotruck. 

Insider's takeaway

Ultimately, the best treatment for a lazy eye will be determined by the patient's doctor. The doctor will decide which method to use and how long to use it for. Some patients will see improvement within weeks, but in other cases, it can take months or longer to fully treat amblyopia.

Related articles from Health Reference:

• The 4 best vitamins for eye health and which foods — besides carrots — may improve vision
• Shingles in the eye is dangerous and can cause blindness — here's how to prevent it
• How to put in eye drops correctly, in 2 different ways
• 3 ways you can treat pink eye without a doctor's appointment
• Do eye drops expire? Yes, and they expire more quickly once you open them

• Main content

2021 Update: Lazy Eye and Adults

Lazy eye is estimated to affect up to 5% of all adults.

For many decades, it has been thought that only children under the age of 10 could be successfully treated for amblyopia (lazy eye). In other words, lazy eye treatment was usually not provided to children older than nine.

However, the National Eye Institute (NEI) recently funded a study that found that lazy eye can be successfully treated at least up to age 17 and even adults!

Now, lazy eye can be effectively treated in high school and college student and even adults !

What is lazy eye?

Lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, is a neuro-developmental vision condition that is caused when one eye is unable to achieve normal visual acuity or does not allow the full development of 3D vision.

A lazy eye typically affects the vision or visual function of the affected eye, causing blurred vision which contributes to poor depth perception and binocular vision.

Amblyopia may develop due to other vision conditions such as a wandering or crossed eye (strabismus), or unequal vision in the two eyes caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat your lazy eye.

Symptoms of lazy eye

Common symptoms of lazy eye:

• One or both eyes may wander inward or outward
• Both eyes may not seem to be working together
• Poor depth perception
• Squinting or shutting one eye in order to see
• Tilting one’s head in order to see
• Frequent eye strain, eye fatigue, or headaches

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact an eye doctor near you who diagnoses and treats lazy eye.

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor to help improve your visual skills .

SEE RELATED: New Research for Adults with Lazy Eye

Find a Vision Therapy Eye Doctor Near You

Are eye exams important.

Yes, frequent eye exams are essential as the earlier a lazy eye is detected, the higher the chances of successful treatment.

In many cases, amblyopia is detectable during a comprehensive eye exam. In addition, if there is a family history of lazy eye, it is crucial that your eyes be examined regularly, as lazy eye can be an inherited condition.

Specific tests are used during eye exams to assess both the visual acuity and the visual skills of each eye. This enables your eye doctor to diagnose a condition such as lazy eye.

Adult lazy eye treatment

For many years it was believed that amblyopia was only treatable in children, often those who are 10 years of age or younger. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. While every patient is different, many adults can see results from amblyopia treatment.

The visual system which consists of the brain, eyes, and visual pathways, can be retrained due to the brain’s plasticity.

For amblyopia , specifically, binocular vision needs to be retrained, as this is the root cause behind a lazy eye. 

With poor binocular vision the two images that the eyes see cannot be combined into one single image, but due to the plasticity of the brain, this does not have to be permanent.

While treatment is most effective when it’s given at an early age, it is still possible at any age to retrain the visual system, restore binocular vision, and correct amblyopia.

Lazy eye and vision therapy

Vision therapy is an effective treatment method for amblyopia. It has been shown to greatly improve the visual skills of the lazy eye by re-training the visual system.

Through vision therapy, the two eyes will be trained to work together to achieve clear and comfortable binocular vision.

Some vision therapy programs that treat amblyopia work to improve these visual skills:

• Accommodation (focusing)
• Fixation (visual gaze)
• Pursuits (eye tracking)
• Saccades (switching eye focus, “eye jumps”)
• Spatial skills (eye-hand coordination)
• Stereopsis (3-D vision)

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Adults

Schedule an eye exam and vision evaluation for a proper diagnosis of lazy eye and to discuss whether a vision therapy program is the appropriate treatment for you.

Find an Eye Doctor

Your plain English library for vision therapy, children's vision, neuro-optometry, and primary eye care.

Vision Therapy

• Guide to Vision Therapy
• For Children
• For Learning Difficulties
• For Lazy Eye
• Neuro-Optometry

Children’s Vision

• Vision for School
• Vision for Special Needs
• Visual Development
• Pediatric Eye Conditions
• Children’s Eye Exams

Primary Eye Care

• Binocular Visual Dysfunction
• Myopia Management
• Eye Conditions
• Sports Vision
• Optical and Contacts

Looking for an Eye Doctor?

Have an optometry practice.

Join the Network

© 1996-2024 Optometrists Network - Powered by EyeCarePro - 70 North Meadow Crescent, Thornhill ON L4J 3B1, Canada

Lazy eye (amblyopia)

On this page, when to see a doctor, risk factors, complications.

Lazy eye (amblyopia) is reduced vision in one eye caused by abnormal visual development early in life. The weaker — or lazy — eye often wanders inward or outward.

Amblyopia generally develops from birth up to age 7 years. It is the leading cause of decreased vision among children. Rarely, lazy eye affects both eyes.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term problems with your child's vision. The eye with poorer vision can usually be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, or patching therapy.

Products & Services

• A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Years

Signs and symptoms of lazy eye include:

• An eye that wanders inward or outward
• Eyes that appear to not work together
• Poor depth perception
• Squinting or shutting an eye
• Head tilting
• Abnormal results of vision screening tests

Sometimes lazy eye is not evident without an eye exam.

See your child's doctor if you notice his or her eye wandering after the first few weeks of life. A vision check is especially important if there's a family history of crossed eyes, childhood cataracts or other eye conditions.

For all children, a complete eye exam is recommended between ages 3 and 5.

Lazy eye develops because of abnormal visual experience early in life that changes the nerve pathways between a thin layer of tissue (retina) at the back of the eye and the brain. The weaker eye receives fewer visual signals. Eventually, the eyes' ability to work together decreases, and the brain suppresses or ignores input from the weaker eye.

Anything that blurs a child's vision or causes the eyes to cross or turn out can result in lazy eye. Common causes of the condition include:

• Muscle imbalance (strabismus amblyopia). The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles that position the eyes. This imbalance can cause the eyes to cross in or turn out, and prevents them from working together.

Difference in sharpness of vision between the eyes (refractive amblyopia). A significant difference between the prescriptions in each eye — often due to farsightedness but sometimes to nearsightedness or an uneven surface curve of the eye (astigmatism) — can result in lazy eye.

Glasses or contact lenses are typically used to correct these refractive problems. In some children lazy eye is caused by a combination of strabismus and refractive problems.

• Deprivation. A problem with one eye — such as a cloudy area in the lens (cataract) — can prohibit clear vision in that eye. Deprivation amblyopia in infancy requires urgent treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. It's often the most severe type of amblyopia.

Factors associated with an increased risk of lazy eye include:

• Premature birth
• Small size at birth
• Family history of lazy eye
• Developmental disabilities

Untreated, lazy eye can cause permanent vision loss.

Aug 14, 2021

• Coats DK, et al. Amblyopia in children: Classification, screening, and evaluation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 8, 2021.
• AskMayoExpert. Amblyopia. Mayo Clinic; 2021.
• Amblyopia. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/amblyopia-lazy-eye. Accessed June 8, 2021.
• Amblyopia preferred practice pattern. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/amblyopia-ppp-2017. Accessed June 8, 2021.
• Coats DK, et al. Amblyopia in children: Management and outcome. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 8, 2021.
• Diseases & Conditions
• Lazy eye (amblyopia) symptoms & causes

CON-XXXXXXXX

Make twice the impact

Your gift can go twice as far to advance cancer research and care!

• Practitioner Site
• Patient Information Booklets
• Find an Eye Doctor
• United States

• MyDay Energys®
• MyDay® daily disposable
• MyDay® daily disposable toric
• MyDay® daily disposable multifocal
• clariti® 1 day
• clariti® 1 day toric
• clariti® 1 day multifocal
• Biofinity Energys®
• Biofinity® toric
• Biofinity® multifocal
• Biofinity® toric multifocal
• Avaira Vitality™
• Avaira Vitality™ toric
• MiSight® 1 day

Additional products

• Find A Lens Quiz
• Aberration Neutralizing System™
• ActivControl® Technology
• Aquaform® Technology
• Balanced Progressive Technology®
• Binocular Progressive System™
• DigitalBoost™ Technology
• Optimized Toric Lens Geometry™
• PC Technology™
• WetLoc® Technology
• Patient Instruction & Information Booklets
• Additional Products

• MyDay® multifocal

• Biofinity® & Biofinity® XR
• Biofinity® toric & Biofinity® XR toric

Find a lens quiz

Contact lens technology

Can't find your brand?

Patient instruction

Simply Satisfied

• Digital eye fatigue
• Experienced wearer
• Career development
• Our inclusive culture
• Warning of fraudulent online employment scams
• Opening Eyes
• Our work and values
• Innovative technology
• Supplier Code of Conduct
• Educational Grants & Sponsorships
• Saving Water
• Conserving Energy
• Reducing, Reusing, Recycling
• Empowering People
• Sustainability News & Accolades
• Sustainability Report Card
• Plastic Neutrality Video
• Partnering with Myopia Management Leaders
• CooperVision Announces the Opening of new site in Costa Rica
• CooperVision COVID-19 Company Statement
• CooperVision Statement on COVID-19 and Contact Lens Wear
• CooperVision World Sight Day 2021
• Myopia Management

Hello! Let’s help you get started…

Click to get started Tap to get started

You are here

What is lazy eye.

Lazy eye refers to the drifting or misalignment of an eye. This is usually the manifestation of amblyopia, where one eye is experiencing significant vision loss, and sometimes also strabismus (or “crossed eyes”), a general misalignment problem.

Let’s walk through how amblyopia and lazy eye affect your vision and how it’s typically corrected and treated. 

Lazy eye / amblyopia: What’s the difference?

There are two main conditions that result in what we see as a lazy eye:

Amblyopia is a developmental problem with the eye-brain connection: the brain has basically learned to ignore information from one eye. Amblyopia is not a problem with the eye itself, though it can both cause and be caused by such problems.

Strabismus , or “crossed eyes”, is a misalignment of the eyes when the six muscles that surround and help focus the eyes are not working together properly. This can be both a cause and an effect of amblyopia.

How does a lazy eye affect my vision?

The most common symptoms of lazy eye are eye drifting and misalignment. But a lazy eye can cause serious vision problems:

• Rapid loss of visual acuity in the lazy eye when left uncorrected and increasingly unused
• Loss of binocular vision, leading to the inability to gauge depth.
• Increased risk of vision loss for the stronger eye, since vision problems that typically occur in both eyes will affect the stronger eye first. 

What causes lazy eye?

Amblyopia occurs because the eye-brain connection is weak or undeveloped.

The most common cause of this is strabismus. When the eye muscles aren’t able to align the eyes properly, especially during development, the brain receives a different image from each eye. The confusion is resolved by the brain’s systematically ignoring one of the images. This leaves the eye unused and the corresponding brain area underdeveloped.

Another common cause is refractive error (near / farsightedness or astigmatism) that’s greater in one eye. This also leads to mismatched input, then the precedence of one eye that causes the brain to ignore input from the other.

Anything that creates this sort of visual imbalance can also cause amblyopia. This includes childhood cataracts, clouded lenses, shape or size differences and other anatomic or structural abnormalities. 

Amblyopia treatment

The earlier a lazy eye is checked out and treated, the better the chances of success. However, lazy eye treatment for adults is also effective, especially when motivation and commitment are strong. Studies show marked improvement in visual acuity of the weaker eye in older patients, though often with diminished rate, degree and extent of recovery.

There are two main steps to amblyopia treatment, the first part of lazy eye correction:

Step 1: Correcting vision problems

Eye conditions, such as cataracts, and refractive errors need to be corrected first and foremost. This is often as simple as prescribing glasses for near or farsightedness. Sometimes, in mild cases, correcting the vision of the weaker or lazy eye is enough for realignment. 

Step 2: Retraining the eye-brain connection

In most cases, eye doctors block the stronger eye in order to train the brain to start recognizing the image from the amblyopic or lazy eye. This can be done with a patch or with eye drops that temporarily blur vision.

Eye muscle surgery

Occasionally, even the correction of amblyopia doesn’t correct strabismus issues that keep the eyes misaligned. In these cases, eye muscle surgery to strengthen or weaken certain muscles can help. A surgeon will either resect (or shorten) a muscle to strengthen it or recess a muscle (attaching it to a farther location) to weaken it.

Eye exercises 

In a small number of cases, mild misalignment due to convergence insufficiency (where the eyes have difficulty turning in to focus on close objects) can be corrected with eye muscle exercises. These eye exercises include pencil push-ups and computer vision therapy.

Remember, the earlier you treat a lazy eye, the higher the chances of success. Anytime you have problems with your eyes or vision, chat with your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Nothing in this article is to be construed as medical advice, nor is it intended to replace the recommendations of a medical professional. For specific questions, please see your eye care practitioner.

Let’s get started..

• Blurry Vision
• Conjunctivitis - Pink Eye
• Corneal Abrasions
• Eye Discharge
• Dilated Pupils
• Eye Infections
• Eye Twitching
• Ocular Migraines
• Swollen Eyelids
• How to Get Rid of a Stye
• Blepharitis
• Eye Floaters
• Myopia in Children
• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Astigmatism
• Contrast sensitivity testing
• Refractive errors and refraction
• Visual Acuity: 20/20 Vision
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Digital Eye Strain
• Computer Glasses
• Kids & Screen Time
• Blue Light and Vision
• Blue Light Glasses
• How to Choose Eyeglass Lenses
• Anti-reflective Lenses
• Progressive Lenses
• Eyeglass Lens Coatings
• Photochromic Lenses
• Multi-focal Lenses
• Eyeglass Frame Materials
• How to Clean Your Glasses
• What do the numbers on your eyeglass frames mean?
• Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length?
• Can you be allergic to eyeglasses?
• The Best Glasses for Your Face Shape
• Pupillary Distance
• Glasses for Round Faces
• Glasses for Small Faces
• Glasses for Long Faces
• Sunglasses for Oval Faces
• How Much Do Glasses Cost?
• Cheap Glasses
• Choosing Eyeglasses
• Best Places to Buy Glasses
• How to Solve Problems with New Glasses
• Styles: Trends in Men's Glasses
• Polarized Lenses
• Prescription Sunglasses Guide
• Ray-Ban Wayfarer Guide
• Performance Sunglasses
• Are Designer Shades Worth It?
• How to Spot Fake Wayfarer Sunglasses
• Guide to High-Quality Sunglasses
• Tint Guide for Sports Sunglasses
• UV Radiation and Your Eyes
• Contact Lens Basics
• Reading a Contact Lens Prescription
• Soft Contact Lens Care
• Daily Disposable Contacts
• Buying Contacts Without a Prescription?
• Bifocal Contacts
• Toric Contact Lenses
• Colored Contacts
• Multifocal Contacts
• Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
• Scleral GP Contact Lenses
• What is vision insurance?
• How to Use Vision Insurance Benefits
• Check Your Vision Insurance Benefits
• EyeMed Vision Insurance
• VSP Vision Insurance
• Vision Insurance or Vision Benefits Plan
• Vision Insurance Provider List
• Provider Networks and Vision Insurance
• What is Covered by Vision Insurance?
• Medicare & Medicaid Vision Benefits
• Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C Plans)
• Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits
• How to Get Free Eye Exams and Glasses
• LASIK Eye Surgery Guide
• Cost of LASIK
• LASIK Risks
• How Long Does LASIK Last?
• Does LASIK Hurt?
• Do I Have To Be Awake During LASIK?
• PRK Surgery
• SMILE Laser Surgery
• Epi-LASIK Surgery
• Lens Replacement Surgery
• LASEK Eye Surgery
• PresbyLASIK
• Cataract Surgery
• Laser Cataract Surgery
• Cataract Surgery Video
• Cataract Surgery Recovery
• Cataract Surgery Complications
• Cataract Surgery Cost
• What to Expect During Eye Exams
• Free Eye Exams
• What is an Eye Test?
• How to Read Your Eyeglass Prescription
• How to Choose an Eye Doctor
• Infant vision development
• Are contact lenses a good choice for kids?
• Reading glasses: Tips before you buy
• How older drivers can improve their driving at night
• Lutein & Zeaxanthin
• Eye Vitamins and Supplements
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Safety Glasses
• Sports Glasses & Goggles
• Eye Safety Basics
• Contact Lenses for Sports
• Shooting Glasses and Hunting Eyewear
• Ski Goggles
• Eye Diagram
• Baby's Eye Colors
• Dominant Eye Test
• Color Blindness
• Color Blind Tests

Can Cataract Surgery Correct Lazy Eye?

Reviewed by  Vance Thompson, MD, FACS

Lazy eye — also called  amblyopia  — is a vision development disorder where an eye is incapable of attaining normal visual acuity, even with eyeglasses or contact lenses, despite no apparent eye injury or disease.

Amblyopia typically starts in infancy or early childhood and generally occurs only in one eye; but in some cases, both eyes may be affected. The most common cause of lazy eye is an eye alignment problem called  strabismus  — misalignment of the eyes that prevents both eyes from being used equally.

The primary cause of lazy eye is strabismus. In some cases, the misalignment of the eyes is barely noticeable to others. But lazy eye does affect vision.

Congenital cataracts  also can cause amblyopia. Performing  cataract surgery  on a young child with congenital cataracts often can fully correct the amblyopia or at least significantly improve the visual acuity of the affected eye(s).

However, the older a person with amblyopia becomes, the less likely it is that cataract surgery will fully restore vision in a lazy eye. But it's possible there may be some noticeable improvement in vision in an amblyopic eye after surgery. It depends on how much of the visual impairment in the affected eye is due to amblyopia and how much is due to the cataract.

Recent studies of the plasticity of the human brain have suggested that  vision therapy ,  strabismus surgery and other measures (including cataract surgery) may be able to make some improvement in the visual acuity of an amblyopic eye in adults. Still, early intervention in childhood is much more effective in improving vision in a lazy eye.

Page published on Monday, January 14, 2019

Schedule an exam

Women’s vision: Understanding risks and ways to protect it

Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS)

Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN)

How to limit your child’s screen time with digital apps, ray-ban stories: features, pros and cons, how dirty are your facial tools, faqs related to cataract surgery, are you awake during cataract surgery, can cataracts cause blindness, can cataract surgery be performed on both eyes at the same time, can cataract surgery be redone, can cataract surgery fix astigmatism, can i have cataract surgery after lasik, can i have cataract surgery if i have glaucoma, can i have lasik after cataract surgery, can i have lasik if i have cataracts, cataracts and cataract surgery faq, cataract treatment: is surgery the only answer, does cataract surgery cause dry eyes, does cataract surgery cure floaters, does cataract surgery hurt, will cataract surgery improve my night vision, what happens if cataracts are left untreated, what is a secondary cataract, when should cataract surgery be avoided, will i need glasses after cataract surgery.

A lazy eye (amblyopia) is when the vision in 1 eye does not develop properly. Rarely, both eyes can be affected.

Check if you have a lazy eye

A lazy eye does not always cause symptoms and is often first diagnosed during an eye test.

The main symptoms include:

• shutting 1 eye or squinting when looking at things
• eyes pointing in different directions (a squint )
• not being able to follow an object or person with your eyes
• tilting your head when looking at something
• having tired eyes and rubbing your eyes a lot
• difficulty catching or throwing
• tripping or falling over a lot
• blinking a lot

Many children do not notice anything wrong with their vision.

You can check a younger child's eyes by covering each eye with your hand, 1 at a time. They may complain if you cover their good eye.

Older children may say they're not able to see as well with 1 eye and may have problems with reading, writing and drawing.

Non-urgent advice: Go to an opticians if:

• you're worried about your or your child's vision
• you have not had an eye test for 2 years

What happens during an eye test

To check if you or your child have a lazy eye, an eye test specialist called an optometrist will usually do an eye test.

You'll be asked to look at lights or read letters while different lenses are placed in front of your eyes.

To check the health of your eyes, you or your child may be given eye drops so the optometrist can see the back of your eye more clearly.

If you or your child needs glasses, you'll be given a prescription. You can take this to any optician.

Find out more about eye tests for children

NHS eye tests

NHS eye tests are free for some people, including:

• children aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
• people who have diabetes or glaucoma
• people on some benefits, including Universal Credit

Find out more about free NHS eye tests

Treatments for a lazy eye

How lazy eye is treated depends on what's causing it.

Treatment for a lazy eye aims to improve vision in the weaker eye.

This may include:

• wearing glasses to correct your vision
• wearing an eye patch over the stronger eye for a few hours a day for several months – these are usually worn with glasses
• using eye drops to temporarily blur vision in the stronger eye

Treatment should ideally start before the age of 7, when vision is still developing.

If lazy eye is caused by cataracts or a drooping eyelid, you may need surgery.

You may also need to have surgery if you have a squint. This will straighten the eyes and allow them to work together better, but does not improve your vision.

Some people are entitled to a voucher to help towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses, including:

• if you're on some benefits, including Universal Credit

If you do not have a voucher, you'll have to pay for glasses or contact lenses.

Find out more about NHS optical vouchers

Help us improve our information

Can you answer some questions about eye tests for children to help us improve our information?

Take our survey

Page last reviewed: 04 January 2023 Next review due: 04 January 2026

• For Ophthalmologists
• For Practice Management
• For Clinical Teams
• For Public & Patients

Museum of the Eye

• Eye Health A-Z
• Glasses & Contacts
• Tips & Prevention
• Ask an Ophthalmologist
• Patient Stories
• No-Cost Eye Exams
• For Public & Patients /

Is Cataract Surgery OK with Lazy Eye?

Can I have laser surgery to remove cataracts if I have a lazy eye?

A lazy eye (or amblyopia) is when the brain does not have a clear image during childhood, resulting in decreased vision. This condition will be permanent if not treated by around age 9. A lazy eye can be the result of an eye that is not straight or requires a glasses prescription to improve vision. People with a lazy eye can still have cataract surgery with any technique, including conventional (phaco) or laser cataract removal. It is important to remember that cataract surgery can only improve your vision to the best that your eye has the potential to see. For example, if your best vision with a lazy eye was 20/40, then 20/40 is the best vision we can achieve with cataract surgery.

Browse Questions by Topic

Our ophthalmologists have answered thousands of questions about eye diseases and conditions. Search our entire Ask an Ophthalmologist collection to find the answers you need. Read our important medical disclaimer . You can also browse by topic to see how physicians answered questions about a specific eye condition:

• Amblyopia, Strabismus and Lazy Eye
• Astigmatism
• Babies and Toddlers
• Blepharitis
• Children and Teens
• Contact Lenses, Glasses, Vision Correction
• Coronavirus (COVID)
• Cosmetic Surgery
• Diabetic Eye Disease
• Double Vision
• Eye Infections
• Eye Injuries
• Floaters and Flashes
• General Eye Health
• Keratoconus
• LASIK and Laser Surgery
• Macular Degeneration
• Stye and Chalazion
• Torn or Detached Retina

Ask a New Question

Not every question will receive a direct response from an ophthalmologist. However, we will follow up with suggested ways to find appropriate information related to your question. Medical disclaimer

By submitting your question, you agree to be answered by email. Your email address will only be used to answer your question unless you are an Academy member or are subscribed to Academy newsletters.

Ask a Question

Keep exploring.

• Find an Ophthalmologist Search Advanced Search

Free EyeSmart Newsletter

All content on the Academy’s website is protected by copyright law and the  Terms of Service . This content may not be reproduced, copied, or put into any artificial intelligence program, including large language and generative AI models, without  permission from the Academy.

• About the Academy
• Jobs at the Academy
• Financial Relationships with Industry
• Medical Disclaimer
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Statement on Artificial Intelligence
• For Advertisers
• Ophthalmology Job Center

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY

Medical Professionals

Public & Patients

• Is surgery possible for adults with amblyopia?
• Lazy Eye Surgery Facts

The Story Of How Shawn Michaels Got His Lazy Eye, Explained

Quick links, how wwe referenced shawn michaels' lazy eye, shawn michaels' lazy eye is actually from 2004, can shawn michaels fix his lazy eye through surgery, many wrestlers have suffered from physical alterations.

The last few years of Shawn Michaels' career saw him having a noticeable difference to his eyes. Michaels had a "lazy eye" at some point suffered in the ring, which was obvious to fans watching the product. His best friend Triple H made fun of Michaels' eye in a few promos as they often made fun of each other during their time in D-Generation X together. The various comments and questions created speculation about what exactly caused it in WWE. Bret Hart was the one to directly ask Michaels during the filming of their documentary special. Michaels gave details about what exactly caused the lazy eye, and it was not the reason WWE tried to pass it off as in the past.

UPDATE: 2024/04/22 11:00 EST BY Andrew Kelly

Shawn Michaels Isn't The Only Wrestler To Suffer Physically Because Of Their Career

Shawn Michaels is a legend of the professional wrestling industry, with him carrying forth his wisdom to NXT, where he is one of the leading heads involved with the developmental brand. Fans will have likely noticed that his appearance has changed over the years, with him no longer sporting luscious blonde locks, replacing that instead with a balding gray head, which showcases his age. This is just an example of how wrestlers are like any other person, and that they get older too, despite their ‘larger than life’ image. With Michaels, fans may have also potentially noticed that his lazy eye looks more obvious as time has gone on, with this likely to continue gradually throughout his life without surgery or other procedures. Michaels’ lazy eye came about due to the risks involved with the sport, with many wrestlers over the years suffering from an array of injuries and noticeable physical alterations also.

A WWE Storyline Blamed Chris Jericho For Shawn Michaels' Lazy Eye

• Shawn Michaels' long-term rival Chris Jericho was engaged with him in a feud
• Chris Jericho brutally attacked Shawn Michaels on Raw
• Shawn Michaels' eye was injured

The heated rivalry between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho was one of the best of Michaels’ iconic career. Both men were gifted technical wrestlers, but they chose to use emotion and violence over athleticism as the main source of storytelling in this feud. WWE utilized the lazy eye of Michaels as a small part of their battles. There was a slow build of matches dictated by sportsmanship with tension growing for the big moment.

Shawn Michaels' 10 Best WrestleMania Matches, Definitely Reviewed

Jericho officially turned heel by attacking Michaels and smashing his face into a television screen during The Highlight Reel talk show segment. The two would have many violent exchanges like that, trying to physically harm the other beyond the barriers of a wrestling match. WWE claimed that Michaels suffered a serious eye injury and used the coincidence of his lazy eye as a small way to tie it together.

Chris Jericho Is Not Responsible For Shawn Michaels' Lazy Eye

• Shawn Michaels' lazy eye was not natural
• Shawn Michaels' lazy eye came from an in ring injury
• It was really Kane whose actions led to Shawn Michael's lazy eye

Bret Hart being the one to get the real scoop from Shawn Michaels is a fun twist given their history. The two former enemies finally made peace when Bret returned to WWE in 2010, and it caused them to work together in multiple ways. WWE produced a documentary looking back at their work on-screen, and it led to them just having conversations in depth for the first time as friends. Hart directly asking Michaels about his eye represented the curiosity of wrestling fans wanting a full explanation. Michaels revealed it had nothing to do with Chris Jericho or their battles at all. A match against Kane at Unforgiven 2004 led to him suffering a hit to the face that felt wrong, resulting in a muscle that attaches to his eye moving a little out of place.

Why Shawn Michaels Oversold Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam 2005, Explained

The incident was not anything major at the time, but it continued to grow a little worse throughout the years. It gradually reached the point of becoming more noticeable a few years later as a Triple H punchline. No fan would have even noticed anything wrong during that Michaels vs Kane match, but it ended up changing his appearance forever.

Shawn Michaels' Eye Condition Does Have A Fix

• Shawn Michaels was asked by Bret Hart about fixing his eye
• HBK doesn't think a procedure is worth the risk to his eye
• Shawn Michaels is at peace with his lazy eye

The bigger question asked by Bret Hart to Shawn Michaels was if he could do anything to fix the lazy eye and get it back to normal. Michaels revealed that a procedure could correct it, but he didn’t feel the risks were worth it. The funny revelation that vanity was a huge part of his life in the '90s and meant nothing now showed just how much he changed while talking to Hart of all people.

Michaels even has fun with the lazy eye when referencing it in promos on television or in interviews. The comfort level of Michaels about his eye is the real reason Triple H can joke about it. Michaels continued to have classic matches and created lifelong memories, even with the lazy eye changing his appearance.

Professional Wrestling Is A Dangerous Profession

• Shawn Michaels' eye injury came from a fairly simple move
• Accidents happen all the time in wrestling
• Wrestling legends like Dusty Rhodes and Mick Foley had permanent alterations to their physical appearance

Shawn Michaels’ lazy eye is becoming more obvious, even if it doesn’t affect him too much from a day-to-day perspective, with it being more of a visual issue than a practical one. He isn’t the only one to have had his features altered in the business though, as there are many other veterans who have had issues too. Those who bladed too much during their careers can be seen to have a scarred forehead, with notable examples being the likes of Dusty Rhodes, D-Von Dudley, and Abdullah the Butcher. Mick Foley also doesn’t even have an ear anymore due to wrestling, and speaking of ears, Brock Lesnar, likely due to his other sporting avenues in amateur wrestling and the UFC, can be seen with a cauliflower ear.

How Shawn Michaels Has Turned Into WWE's Best Backstage Asset

Even current wrestlers often showcase the wounds of war, with a scar on Cody Rhodes head still being visible after three years, when he cut his head open during an AEW World Championship match against Chris Jericho. The list goes on and on, with Michaels’ lazy eye being one of many examples of how wrestling can have significant wear and tear over the body. Shawn Michaels managed to have a hugely successful career regardless of potentially career-ending injuries, and he isn't even a stranger to eye injuries, with him also picking up a torn eyelid back in the 90s, although this was due to his own doing rather than it being a wrestling injury, as he was involved in the losing end of a bar fight.

Using Apple Vision Pro with vision prescriptions and vision conditions

Apple Vision Pro supports a wide range of vision prescription and vision condition needs. Certain prescription needs and conditions may impact the viewing experience. Learn about your options if you use prescription or reader eyeglasses, contact lenses, if you have certain vision conditions, or if you've had vision correction surgery.

If you wear prescription eyeglasses

If you wear reader eyeglasses, if you wear contact lenses, if you are corrected to monovision, if you have a diagnosed vision condition, if you want to try accessibility features.

You cannot wear Apple Vision Pro while wearing eyeglasses. If you require prescription eyeglasses, including for astigmatism, you may be able to order prescription ZEISS Optical Inserts that can be used with your Vision Pro.

To purchase ZEISS Optical Inserts for Apple Vision Pro, you need a legible comprehensive prescription. Here's the information your comprehensive prescription should contain:

Your distance correction needs and/or your near correction needs, indicated separately but on the same prescription sheet. This is known as the full manifest refraction by eye care providers.

An expiration date (that's not expired).

Your full name, and your prescriber’s license number and signature.

Your eye exam or issue date.

Intermediate distance, task distance, or computer distance should not be part of that prescription, and contact lens prescriptions are not accepted. If you’re not sure if your prescription is comprehensive, consult an eye care provider and reference the description in this article.

ZEISS Optical Inserts are available for the vast majority of corrections, including for customers who normally use progressive or bifocal lenses. A very small percentage of people have a prism value added to their glasses prescription. At this time, ZEISS cannot manufacture ZEISS Optical Inserts based on a prescription containing prism value. If you have a prism value, it is labeled on your prescription and noted separately from sphere, cylinder, axis, and ADD values. If you’re not sure if your prescription includes prism, consult with an eye care provider.

Depending on your prescription, your vision needs might not be met through ZEISS Optical Inserts.

Check whether your prescription is supported

Learn how to order ZEISS Optical Inserts for Apple Vision Pro

After you place an order for ZEISS Optical Inserts and upload your prescription, you receive a verification whether ZEISS Optical Inserts are available to you within about one business day.

If you only require near correction readers without any distance correction, you can purchase ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers. These are designed to support people who use over the counter reading glasses for their vision needs. ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers are marked on their box and engraved on their frames with corresponding reading glass lens ranges, so that you can easily match the correct one to your reading glass power. They come in three strengths:

+0.75 to +1.25D

+1.50 to +1.75D

+2.00 to +2.75D

Choose the ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers power that matches the reading glasses that you use for reading a book. If you use readers with a strength above +2.75D, you can try the +2.00 to +2.75D ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers with Apple Vision Pro, or consult an eye care provider for a comprehensive prescription.

The ranges above are translated to the corresponding actual lens power after you pair your ZEISS Optical Inserts with your Apple Vision Pro. In Settings, they appear as: +0.25D, +0.50D, or +0.75D, depending on the ZEISS Optical Inserts purchased.

A very small number of people who use readers might experience vision discomfort such as eye strain or blurriness in Apple Vision Pro. If you experience this, consult an eye care provider for a comprehensive prescription that works within the supported prescription range for Apple Vision Pro.

Find an eye doctor near you

If you use single vision soft prescription contact lenses, you can use Apple Vision Pro without ZEISS Optical Inserts — Prescription.

If you use hard contact lenses, it might impact your experience with Apple Vision Pro. If you experience difficulty with eye tracking, and your eye care provider has indicated that eye glasses with a comprehensive prescription is an option for you, then you may consider ordering ZEISS Optical Inserts. Otherwise, you may use an alternate form of input such as Pointer Control .

Cosmetic contact lenses are not compatible with Apple Vision Pro and should be removed before using the device.

If you typically use reading glasses in conjunction with your prescription contact lenses, you may benefit from using ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers in conjunction with your contact lenses.

If you switch contact lens brands or strengths, or start using ZEISS Optical Inserts, for the best experience, redo your eye setup on your Apple Vision Pro .

If you have had monovision corrective surgery, consult with an eye care provider for a comprehensive prescription that works within the supported prescription range for Apple Vision Pro.

If you use monovision contact lenses, remove them and use ZEISS Optical Inserts based on your comprehensive eyeglass prescription.

Your comprehensive prescription should contain your distance correction and near correction needs, indicated separately but on the same prescription sheet. Intermediate distance, task distance, or computer distance shouldn't be part of that prescription. Your comprehensive prescription should not be expired, must contain your date of birth, full name, prescriber’s license number, and should be legible.

Apple Vision Pro uses where a person looks to navigate within visionOS. Some medical conditions, such as those involving eyelid drooping, changes in eye alignment (including strabismus or lazy eye), or uncontrolled eye movements (including nystagmus) might make it difficult for Vision Pro to properly detect your eyes. This might impact the visual experience.

However, you can adapt Apple Vision Pro to suit your needs for navigation using Accessibility features. Instead of using your eyes, you can use your wrist, head, index finger, or voice to navigate.

In Apple Vision Pro Settings, there are several features that you can use to help accommodate your vision needs:

To customize which eye you use to control Apple Vision Pro, go to Settings > Accessibility > Eye Input. You can choose Both Eyes, Left Eye Only, or Right Eye Only. Try this if you need to use one eye to control Apple Vision Pro input.

To set display changes to not track your eyes while rendering, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Ignore Eye Movements to Stabilize. Try this if you experience jumpiness from your eyes. This turns off dynamic image optimization.

To increase contrast when you look at content, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Increase Focus State. Try this if you need higher contrast feedback for where your eyes are looking in Apple Vision Pro.

To control Apple Vision Pro with your wrist, hand, or head, go to Settings > Accessibility > Interaction, then select Pointer Control and choose the pointer that you want. Try this if you would like to utilize an alternate form of input, other than your eyes.

To zoom in or out on certain items as you use Apple Vision Pro, go to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom, and turn on Zoom. Try this if you would like to magnify what you are looking at.

To control Apple Vision Pro with your voice, go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control, and select Set Up Voice Control. Try this if you would like to use Apple Vision Pro with your voice.

Learn more about Accessibility features in visionOS

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Explore Apple Support Community

Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Digestive Health
• Multiple Sclerosis
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Occupational Therapy
• Healthy Aging
• Health Insurance
• Public Health
• Patient Rights
• Caregivers & Loved Ones
• End of Life Concerns
• Health News
• Thyroid Test Analyzer
• Doctor Discussion Guides
• Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer
• Lipid Test Analyzer
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer
• What to Buy
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Diplopia (Double Vision) and Treatment Effectiveness

Does treatment correct diplopia.

• Complications

In diplopia (double vision), you see more than one image at the same time. This may occur in just one or both eyes. It may come on suddenly and be temporary, or it can be something you've experienced for a while. It all depends on the underlying cause.

In this article, you'll learn the symptoms of double vision and how these may vary depending on the type, whether treatment can help restore your vision, what may be causing the condition, potential complications, and more.

Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health

Symptoms of Diplopia Subtypes

The symptoms you experience will depend upon the type of diplopia you are dealing with. That begins with determining whether the double vision affects one or both eyes.

In monocular diplopia, just one eye is affected. When just that eye is open, you may see a ghost image. Most of the time, that ghost image is caused by something in the eye rather than a condition in the brain (neurological).

If you experience double vision only when both eyes are open, there's a likelihood of a neurological cause. If you have double vision in both eyes (binocular), this may go away when you shut one of your eyes since only one image will then reach the brain.

Binocular diplopia may occur because one eye is looking at one image and the other at a slightly different one. It may also occur only when you move your eyes in a certain direction, such as side to side or up and down.

A Word From Verywell

In my practice, most cases of diplopia are seen in my older patient population and are usually not emergent. That being said, any case of diplopia should be evaluated by an eye doctor to ensure there are no vision-threatening issues despite your age.

Sometimes, diplopia resolves on its own, but you shouldn't count on this. Fortunately, there are a variety of approaches to correcting double vision.

In cases where diplopia is caused by an underlying issue such as hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) or multiple sclerosis (an autoimmune condition affecting the nervous system), medication to help control the condition may also resolve your double vision.

If you have binocular double vision caused by seeing two conflicting images, then your eye doctor may recommend occlusion therapy. This involves patching one eye or blocking off one of the lenses on your glasses. This only allows one image through and can be continued until the double vision dissipates and the patch is no longer needed.

Your eye doctor may recommend getting Botox (botulinum toxin) injections in the muscles of the stronger eye so these muscles aren't as dominant. This gives the muscles of the other eye a chance to catch up. Depending on the issue, this may be a temporary approach or ongoing.

If the eyes are misaligned due to muscle issues, muscle surgery may be recommended in some instances.

Causes of Diplopia

Double vision can come from different parts of the eye, the muscles, the nerves, and even the brain. Here are the leading possibilities for what may be at the root of your double vision:

• Lens problems : The lens focuses light rays onto the light-sensitive retina. But sometimes, something gets in the way of this. If you develop a cataract (the lens becomes clouded), it's not uncommon to develop double vision, which may continue until the cataract is removed.
• Corneal issues : The clear dome over the top of the eye (cornea) can sometimes become damaged. Conditions that may impact the corneal surface and cause double vision include dry eye, scarring, infections, and the development of astigmatism , where the cornea is no longer completely round.
• Eye muscle problems : Eye muscles shift your gaze, either up or down or left and right. If one set of eye muscles is weaker or becomes paralyzed, the eyes won't move in concert, and you may end up with double vision. Sometimes, a muscle malady may cause strabismus (misaligned eyes). If you notice that you have vertical double vision where one image is above the other, this may result from Graves' disease , a thyroid disorder that impacts the muscles of the eyes. If you have horizontal double vision, this usually relates to the medial or lateral rectus muscle. Muscle weakness that causes double vision that is worse at a distance is likely due to a sixth nerve palsy causing some loss of function because this indicates trouble with the eyes diverging. Meanwhile, if the double vision is worse when viewing some closeup, the trouble involves bringing the eyes together and likely involves a medial rectus palsy.
• Cranial nerve issues : The cranial nerves that send signals from the eyes to the brain can impact eye movement and lead to double vision. Eye nerves can be weakened or damaged by conditions where the immune system attacks them, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome , multiple sclerosis , and myasthenia gravis . If you have diabetes , your nerves can also be affected by high blood sugar.
• Brain issues : It's up to the brain to decipher the visual images that come from the eyes. Conditions such as migraine headaches, tumors, aneurysms (outpouchings of blood vessels), strokes , infections, or head trauma can possibly be the cause.

The most common cause of diplopia usually depends on age. When a person over 65 complains of monocular diplopia, the usual diagnosis is cataracts or dry eyes. When that same person complains of binocular diplopia, the cause may be cranial nerve palsy due to diabetes or hypertension.

The cause of diplopia can vary in younger people—commonly, it is dry eyes or ophthalmic migraine. More information about the length of time a problem occurs or whether it fluctuates makes a major difference in the diagnosis.

Sudden Symptoms

While double vision may be a chronic issue for you, in other cases, it may appear suddenly. This can be scary and should be checked out, but remember that you may be having a stress reaction or just be extremely tired.

Still, you should have this checked out to ensure that there is not something more serious going on. The fact that the double vision has come on suddenly should raise a red flag. It may indicate an issue with the brain that needs to be looked at more closely. Other red flags may be headaches with vision problems or vision loss unrelated to issues with the eye itself.

Also, note any other symptoms. Something like a stroke, for example, can come on suddenly. In addition to visual changes like sudden double or blurred vision, some may experience severe headaches, balance difficulties, and numbness on one side. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as these should immediately call 911.

Eye Exam to Diagnose Diplopia

When you visit an eye doctor to assess your double vision, they will first determine whether it is due to an issue with one eye or both. If the double vision appears to be coming from just one eye, then they will look at the structures of the eye under magnification at the slit lamp to get a better look at what may be causing the diplopia in the eye.

As part of the eye exam, the eye doctor will also consider how your eye muscles function by asking you to look side to side and up and down.

They will also determine if your eyes are misaligned by shining a light into them as you look through the prism. In addition, they will give you a neurological exam to determine whether your brain may be the source of your diplopia.

The eye doctor will look for any signs of a muscular disorder, such as eyelid drooping, which can occur with a condition such as myasthenia gravis or muscular dystrophy.

They may also order a blood test to see if an underlying condition (such as Graves' disease) is causing your double vision.

You may also need to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether a tumor or nerve inflammation is the cause of the problem.

Treatment to Correct Temporary Double Vision

In some cases, double vision may be caused by a medical condition. While trying to resolve this, your vision may fluctuate, and an eye doctor may prescribe a temporary fix to help you function in the meantime.

A prism is a pie-shaped piece of glass or plastic that can bend light to bring two images together. They may recommend attaching a press-on prism to one or both of your glasses' lenses to resolve the issue temporarily.

Complications and Ongoing Symptoms

In addition to contending with double vision, without treatment, you may also find yourself dealing with ongoing symptoms such as the following:

• Pain around the temples or eyebrows
• Eye weakness
• Experiencing pain when moving your eyes

If you experience ongoing double vision, you should seek answers. In many cases, these symptoms can be treated and alleviated.

Double vision can occur in one or both eyes. It may be caused by something in the eye itself, by the muscles or nerves involved, or even by the brain. While having double vision does not usually mean anything is seriously wrong, particularly if it comes on suddenly, it is important to promptly get it checked.

Yale Medicine. Diplopia (double vison).

NYU Langone Health. Diagnosing double vision.

NYU Langone Health. Nonsurgical treatment for double vision.

Stanford Medicine. Double vision.

Stanford Medicine. Causes of double vision.

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Basic approach to diplopia.

Cooper Vision. Double vision; should I be concerned?

Ogun O. Red flags in neuro-ophthalmology . Community Eye Health . 2016;29(96):64-65.

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. FAST signs of stroke... what are the other signs?

Yale Medicine. Diplopia (double vision).

Stanford Medicine. Symptoms of double vision.

By Maxine Lipner Lipner is a New York-based freelance health and medical writer who covers ophthalmology and oncology.

Cherry eye in dogs

What is cherry eye in dogs?

Symptoms of cherry eye in dogs, breeds at risk of cherry eye, how cherry eye is diagnosed, treatments for cherry eye in dogs, cherry eye complications, can you prevent cherry eye in your dog, when to see a veterinarian for cherry eye, can pet insurance help pay for cherry eye treatment.

Cherry eye in dogs is the prolapse of the nictitans gland. This is a tear producing gland found in the dog's third eyelid (nictitating membrane). When this gland pops out of place, it often looks like a small, red cherry bulging in the corner of their eye (hence the name).

What causes cherry eye in dogs?

The exact cause of cherry eye is not fully understood, but it is generally believed to be associated with a weakness in the connective tissue that holds the gland in place. There are strong breed dispositions, and this is often passed down in dogs known for bulgy eyes (hello, Frenchies !).

The most obvious symptom of cherry eye is the appearance of a pink or red, fleshy mass in the corner of one or both of your dog's eyes. There may also be discharge if irritation or infection sets in. The longer that cherry eye goes untreated, the higher the chance of secondary issues (like eye ulcers ).

Does cherry eye hurt dogs?

While cherry eye itself is not painful, it can lead to discomfort and secondary complications if left untreated. The prolapsed gland is not able to produce the normal amount of tears which can lead to a dry, irritated eye that is more prone to infections.

As we hinted at before, certain breeds are more susceptible to developing cherry eye. Flat-faced brachycephalic breeds like American bulldogs , for instance, have an unfortunate predisposition to developing cherry eye.

And the risk is high— one study found that brachycephalic breeds are almost 7x more likely to develop cherry eye than their medium-skull-length brethren.

Here are a few of the top breeds prone to cherry eye:

French bulldogs (Frenchies)

Again, if you're in the market for one of these adorable bulgy-eyed purebreds , it's important to look for a responsible breeder who avoids breeding dogs prone to hereditary conditions.

Unfortunately, even the most well-bred pug can still develop cherry eye. It just comes with the territory!

Top-ranked* dog insurance

We've got your dog's back (even if it's in a brace).

ManyPets offers nose-to-tail dog insurance for accidents and illnesses at competitive prices with no hidden fees. *According to Forbes Advisor’s “Best Pet Insurance of 2023”

Diagnosing cherry eye is straightforward and based primarily on the visible symptoms. But it's still important to see your vet. They'll perform a thorough eye examination to confirm the presence of the prolapsed gland and rule out other potential eye issues.

Surgical correction for cherry eye

The most effective treatment for cherry eye is surgical correction (you might hear it called "nictitans gland replacement").

In the past, the majority of vets simply removed the gland. But that proved problematic because that gland produces more than 1/3 of your dog's tears and the third eyelid protects their eye!

Now, most vets surgically reposition the prolapsed gland back underneath the eyeball. In some cases, vets may also tack the gland to the "orbital rim" with permanent stitches (anchoring).

Most (some sources say above 90%) of cherry eye surgeries are successful, but some dogs will need repeat surgery. In that case, your vet may proceed with "anchoring" or even removing the gland.

How much does cherry eye surgery cost?

The cost of cherry eye surgery depends on where you live, your chosen surgeon, and the extent of the surgery required. Of course, treating both eyes is more expensive. At ManyPets, we've seen claims ranging from $450 (for one eye) to over $5,600 (for both eyes).

How to treat cherry eye in dogs without surgery

For various reasons, surgery might not be an immediate option. In such cases, your vet might recommend temporary relief through the use of anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments aimed at reducing swelling and irritation. Lubricating eye drops can also make your dog feel more comfortable. Remember, these aren't long-term solutions and won't fix the prolapse itself.

If left untreated, cherry eye can lead to more serious problems, including chronic dry eye, tissue damage, and infection. With timely treatment and surgery, the prognosis for dogs with cherry eye is generally very good. Again, a 90% surgery success rate means your dog will likely never deal with the issue again (at least in the treated eye).

There is not much you can do at home to prevent cherry eye from occurring, but you should definitely monitor your pet for anything out of the ordinary. While it is not usually an emergency, seeing your vet promptly will help improve the success of any recommended treatment.

Due to the hereditary nature of the condition, it is worth mentioning again how important it is to try to source your dog from a reputable breeder in the first place. You might also want to possibly reconsider whether a flat-faced breed is right for you .

As with most health issues , it's a good idea to call your vet with concerns. Early intervention is key to preventing complications and making sure your dog recovers quickly.

Whether it's surgical correction or another form of management, your vet (not Google, or even this article) is the best resource for you and your dog. They will be able to create a tailored strategy just for your pup.

At ManyPets, we can provide coverage for eligible accidents and illnesses, including hereditary and congenital conditions, as long as they are not otherwise excluded or pre-existing .* Get your risk-free quote today!

*ManyPets Pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions unless the pet has been free of symptoms and treatment for 18 months. Annual deductibles, co-pays, benefit limits, and exclusions may apply. See your policy for details.

Related articles

A guide to ear mites in dogs

Why does my dog pant?

Common health issues in border terriers

Leanna Zeibak

Leanna Zeibak is a Content Manager at ManyPets. In her spare time, she paints pet portraits and bakes far too many chocolate chip cookies.

Get more pet news and guides straight into your inbox

By signing up, I agree with ManyPets' privacy policy I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.