Can LASIK Correct Vision in a Lazy Eye?

Contrary to what the term suggests, a “lazy,’ or amblyopic eye, isn’t an eye that can’t help but to frequently nap or “fall asleep” as our feet or hands sometimes do. Rather, it’s when vision in one or both eyes does not develop properly during childhood because the child’s brain has learned to ignore one of the eyes. Amblyopia is a common problem in babies and young children, but vision changes from amblyopia can last a lifetime. More often than not, the amblyopic eye, even with vision correction via eyeglasses or contact lenses, will never see as clearly as its companion non-amblyopic eye.

Is it advisable to seek a LASIK solution to the amblyopic eye?

Here at TLC Laser Eye Centers, our clinical teams of optometrists, technicians, and surgeon partners all strive to provide our patients solutions to their vision woes – be they nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or any combination thereof, by way of LASIK. A major component of our patient interaction involves setting expectations with regards to projected treatment outcomes.

In that spirit, our free LASIK consultation includes a series of vision tests and specialized scans that will reveal a patient’s candidacy profile. As providers, we work to uncover a patient’s vision potential. We want to know exactly how well it’s possible for a patient to see. Bearing in mind that the amblyopic eye typically will never see as well as its companion “good” eye (even if it can be shown to improve vision somewhat), we have an absolute duty to share that information with our patients. In an instance where it can be shown that there would be no benefit at all to treating an amblyopic eye, then of course we’d want to share that opinion with a patient as well.

Again, it’s all part of establishing a healthy patient / provider rapport, building trust, and setting expectations.