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There a number of causes of amblyopia and each has a different likely treatment plan.
Sometimes, amblyopia develops because the eyes are misaligned (a lazy eye) which can be treated through corrective lenses and or patches. In other cases the eyes have different refractive errors so one eye has a development delay and the other becomes more dominant. In rare cases, amblyopia can develop through occlusion which is usually caused by cataracts where the lens (or lenses) of the eye(s) are clouded so development again is delayed. This form is treated by removing the occlusion and then using patches or drops to help the eyes develop to an equal level.
Opthalmic surgeons or optometrists (opticians) can give more detailed advice and perform test on the causes and they will be able to offer specific treatment for your son.
Treatment usually includes occluding (covering up) the dominant eye so that the poorer eye will develop quicker. this can be done through eye drops, eye patches or blurred/blanked glasses. The outcoe of tratment is usually related to time so the sooner treatment is started, the better the improvment is likely to be. This is because when we are younger, our brains are said to be more neuroplastic which means that we can more easily re-programme our brains through new experiences.
Lasiks and eye surgery are both used as treatments for underlying eye conditions and do not treat the amblyopia itself. The amblyopia simply refers to the development delay. If your son has underlying conditions, a professional will advise on the treatment for those along with options for the amblyopia treatment.
In terms of your sons age, if he has had the amblyopia since birth, treatment is said to be most effective before age 9. That is not to say it does not work afterwards. If this is a condition your son has developed more recently, the treatment is more likely to be effective.
If you are given the option of eye patches or atropine drops (eye drops which blur the vision in the good eye to encourage development in the bad eye), considering your son's age, you may prefer the drops as they do not have the same visual look and result in less teasing from peers.
Having had cataracts and amblyopia in one eye, I have been lucky enough to have had corrective surgery and treatment which means that my eyes are good enough for me to drive (legally!) and it doesn't stop me doing anything. My amblyopia was not properly cured but the treatment I did get improved it no end.
Patching or atropine drops which act to block the dominant eye to encourage the poorer eye will not work overnight and will require some commitment from your son (and you!) but persevere with any treatment plan you are given and your son will hopefully see the reward!
In conclusion, try and search out a local optician or opthalmic surgeon who can give more specific advice for your son and suggest treatment options. Amblyopia in its many forms are more common than you might think and help is out there to help you and your son.
