wandering eye in baby

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.

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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.
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• Lazy eye (amblyopia) symptoms & causes

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Pediatric Amblyopia (lazy eye)

What you need to know, key symptoms.

Every year hundreds of children are evaluated and treated at Children’s National Hospital for amblyopia ("lazy eye") and its underlying causes. Children's National pediatric ophthalmologists  have extensive experience in identifying and treating the condition, which affects 4-5% of the population.

Amblyopia is almost always treatable if detected early. With increased awareness, early vision screening and referral, and timely diagnosis and management of amblyopia, proper visual acuity can be restored. Drawing on their wide experience, Children's National pediatric ophthalmologists will design an individualized treatment plan for each child.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is amblyopia (lazy eye).

Amblyopia, often called "lazy eye" is poor sight in a normal eye. During early childhood, a child's brain actively develops its visual pathways from the eyes to the visual processing center. This process occurs from the first month of life until around 8 to 10 years of age, after which the pathways are permanently set. If development of the visual pathways is impeded, the affected eye may never develop good vision.

Some of the most common causes of amblyopia include various forms of  strabismus  (misalignment of the eyes), uncorrected refractive errors, newborn cataracts or ptosis ("droopy eyelid").

What are the symptoms of lazy eye in children?

There may be no symptoms. Because vision problems from amblyopia affect only one eye, the child may function with one good eye and be unaware of the problem. Early detection is important.

How is lazy eye in children diagnosed?

A visual acuity test is an important screening tool. These tests are performed at schools, health fairs and primary care clinics , usually beginning around 3 or 4 years of age. If there are concerns regarding visual acuity, a full eye exam is needed.

What is included in the treatment of lazy eye in children?

Treatment of lazy eye at Children's National is designed to both address the underlying cause and help the brain use the eye that has been effectively ignored. Based on their extensive experience, Children's National pediatric ophthalmologists will carefully individualize each child's treatment timeline and regimen, taking into account what is most suitable for the condition, the child's age and temperament, and the family's dynamics.

Treating the underlying cause of lazy eye may involve:

Treatment of lazy eye may involve the use of patching or atropine drops in the good eye to encourage the brain to use the affected eye more, making its visual development stronger.

Patching can be a challenge for any parent and child. Most children with lazy eye are too young to appreciate the benefits of patching and it can be an annoyance. Adhesive patches, available at most pharmacies, are the gold standard for treatment.

Some patients may be able to use atropine eye drops instead, depending on the type and severity of their lazy eye. There are rare occasions when felt patches also can be used. A Children’s National specialist will be able to tell you which options are appropriate for your child, based on a thorough evaluation.

What is the long-term outlook for a child with lazy eye?

The good news about lazy eye is that it can be a very treatable disease, leading to improved vision, if effectively addressed in a timely manner. Treatment may be needed throughout childhood to best treat the child and timely follow-up is of crucial importance. Follow-up appointment intervals may range from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the age of the child, type of lazy eye, and severity of the disease.

All members of the  Pediatric Ophthalmology Team  are trained to detect, properly diagnose, and manage strabismus in children and adults. Learn more about the Division of Ophthalmology  and our locations or call us at  202-476-3015.

Providers Who Treat Amblyopia (lazy eye)

Mohamad S. Jaafar, MD

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Marijean M. Miller, MD

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• Montgomery County

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Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Division of ophthalmology, what is amblyopia.

Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye or wandering eye, is a common vision problem in children. In most cases of amblyopia, your child’s brain ignores the signals coming from one eye, meaning the other eye is the only one being used.

Over time, the brain gets used to working with only one eye. The eye that’s being ignored by the brain doesn’t develop normal vision.

If treated while your child is young and the eyes are still developing, he has a good chance of overcoming amblyopia. The goal of treatment is to make your child’s brain use both eyes. Getting the eyes to work as a team becomes harder as your child grows. Early treatment is best; and treatment may not work at all if started after 7-10 years of age.

If left untreated, amblyopia may keep your child from developing normal vision.

Amblyopia affects 2-5 percent of children.

Amblyopia has three main causes:

• Strabismus , which occurs when a child’s eyes aren’t aligned (straight). The eyes don’t work together. This leads the brain to ignore one eye.
• Refractive error , or need for glasses. Children are especially at risk if one eye has larger need for glasses compared to other eye.
• Conditions that cause poor vision in one eye, like cataract or droopy eyelid (ptosis), which prompts the brain to ignore the blurry pictures seen by that eye.

Additional factors can place a child at a higher risk for amblyopia, including:

• A family history of amblyopia
• Prematurity
• Developmental delay
• Craniofacial disorders
• Certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21) , 22q deletion syndrome , Williams syndrome and Noonan syndrome

Symptoms of amblyopia can vary from child to child, but may include:

• Squinting in one or both eyes
• Rubbing one eye (not just when tired)
• Holding items close to the eyes to see them
• A wandering or crossed eye (strabismus)

It’s important to note that some children display no symptoms of amblyopia. The child’s strong eye — and her brain — can compensate for the weaker eye, making it appear that the child has good vision.

Testing and diagnosis

Vision screening is the best way to detect presence of amblyopia or risk factors for developing amblyopia. Photoscreening, a type of vision screening that uses a special camera to determine how well a child can see, is often performed in conjunction with vision testing at pediatricians or schools.

The goal of treatment for amblyopia is to:

• Correct the problem that is causing amblyopia
• Make each eye see as well as it can, which often involves forcing the brain to use the “weak” eye
• Force the brain to use the signals from both eyes
• Make both eyes work together

Amblyopia is most often treated by blocking one eye to keep it from doing all the work. The brain can learn to accept signals from the eye that’s being ignored. Gradually, vision in this eye may improve.

Commonly used treatments include:

• An eye patch  is placed over the eye that’s being used. With this eye blocked, the brain is forced to start working with the eye it’s ignoring. The patch must be worn while your child is awake. Your child may not like wearing a patch. But remember that treatment will work only if your child wears the patch as often as instructed.
• Medicated (atropine) eye drops  can be used instead of a patch. Drops are put in the “good” eye, blurring near vision in that eye. This allows the eye that’s being ignored to start working with the brain. Eye drops may be an option for certain children who don’t like wearing a patch. But putting in eye drops can take practice.
• Eyeglasses can help correct focusing problems . They can also be prescribed to blur sight in the eye that’s being used. This forces the brain to work with the eye it’s ignoring. In some cases, sight in one eye is blocked by sticking a patch or a filter to the inside of an eyeglass lens. As vision improves, your child’s eyeglass prescription may change.

Follow-up care

Once amblyopia improves, maintenance treatment may be needed to prevent vision from slipping. Maintenance treatment includes continued wearing of eyeglasses and/or wearing an eye patch for decreasing amounts of time during the day than was required during the treatment period.

Amblyopia can cause blindness, but fortunately it is the most reversible cause of blindness. Treatment is highly successful as long as children and families stick to the treatment plan.

Reviewed by Stefanie L. Davidson, MD

Providers Who Treat Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

William Anninger, MD

Gil Binenbaum, MD, MSCE

Stefanie L. Davidson, MD

Emily A. DeCarlo, MD

Brian j. forbes, md, phd.

Anne Jensen, MD

Priyanka Kumar, MD

Ayesha Malik, OD

Monte D. Mills, MD

Julia E. Reid, MD

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7 Signs Your Child Might Have a Lazy Eye

Do you know the signs to look for to identify lazy eye in your child?

Amblyopia , commonly known as “lazy eye” is a neuro-developmental vision condition that typically develops before a child turns eight years old.

Lazy eye occurs when one eye is unable to achieve normal visual acuity . The condition causes blurry vision in the affected eye (even with corrective lenses), poor depth perception, and reading difficulties.

• Lazy eye affects up to 3 percent of the population.
• Approximately 10 million children and adults in the U.S. have lazy eye.

A lazy eye is generally difficult to recognize because it usually develops in only one eye, without a noticeable eye turn.  

It is important to be aware of the signs that may indicate a lazy eye, since in most cases, the condition is not recognized easily— though it can significantly affect a child’s quality of life.

Contact an eye doctor near you that has experience in diagnosing and treating lazy eye.

The following 7 signs may indicate a “hidden” lazy eye 

1. frequently squints, rubs, or closes one eye.

Does your child squint his eyes, or close one eye when outdoors on a bright, sunny day? Does he rub his eye or cover it with his hand? 

These may be signs that one eye is weaker than the other, and your child may be trying to find ways to see more clearly.

2. Turns head to one side 

Does your child watch TV with his head turned to one side? 

Since lazy eye typically affects one eye, a child with a lazy eye may turn his head to utilize his dominant eye to see better. You may also notice that your child turns his head while playing sports or trying to catch a ball, or even while watching live sports games.

3. Reading difficulties

Does your child read below grade level or refuse to read altogether?

A lazy eye can make reading quite difficult— causing loss of place, skipping words, re-reading words, misreading or substituting words, and adding words into sentences.

A child with a lazy eye must exert extra focusing effort to keep the words clear. This additional effort can cause fatigue and reduced concentration while reading. A lazy eye can turn reading into a stressful task, instead of an engaging activity— especially as the words get smaller with higher grade level books.

Schedule an exam with an eye doctor near you to diagnose and treat your child’s lazy eye.

SEE RELATED: Does Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) Affect Eye-Hand Coordination?

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4. math difficulties.

Does your child struggle in math? Believe it or not, this may be a sign of a lazy eye. 

When a lazy eye develops, the eyes become slightly misaligned. Though it may not be noticeable when looking at your child’s eyes, blurry or double vision can occur, and affect the way math problems appear on a page.

When a child sees a math problem stacked in rows, they may not see the numbers accurately as a result of blurry or double vision— this will affect their ability to solve math problems accurately. Additionally, if the child exerts too much focusing effort, it may distract them from understanding the task at hand, or method of solving the problem.

5. Sports performance difficulties or accident prone

Does your child love to play sports, but for some reason cannot keep up with their peers? Does it seem like your child is frequently tripping, falling, or bumping into things?

A lazy eye can affect depth perception, or the ability to judge the distance or location of an object in space. Without clear depth perception, playing most sports can be quite challenging. Both eyes need to be working together in order to judge where objects are located in relation to yourself.

Without clear depth perception, a child with a lazy eye may also frequently trip over objects, fall down stairs, and maybe even get hit by a moving swing at the park.

6. Reduced fine motor skills

Does your child have messy handwriting?

Lazy eye symptoms such as poor binocular coordination and depth perception, can cause reduced fine motor skills. Binocular coordination enables clear depth perception, and is crucial for all fine motor skills, including legible handwriting. However, with a lazy eye, binocular coordination is reduced.

Without strong fine motor skills, the ability to stay on the line when writing can be a challenge. If your child continually writes above or below the line, their eyes may not be working in coordination.

7. Attention difficulties

Does your child’s attention seem to wander during times they should be focused on a task, such as reading or drawing?

While your child might appear to have an attention problem, in truth, a lazy eye can cause focusing difficulties during activities of prolonged visual focus. Therefore, your child’s inability to maintain concentration during visually-oriented tasks could be a sign of reduced focusing skills, and possibly a lazy eye.

How is lazy eye treated? 

If your child has a lazy eye, vision therapy , with or without eye patching or atropine eye drops, is the most effective way to strengthen the affected eye.

Vision therapy consists of a series of eye exercises performed under the supervision of your eye doctor. These exercises help to strengthen the eye-brain connections, to improve the visual skills necessary for binocular vision.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Lazy Eye

If your child is showing signs of a lazy eye, schedule an eye exam for a proper diagnosis, and to begin an effective treatment plan as soon as possible.

Vision therapy can help your child gain the confidence he deserves, academic and athletic success he desires, and the ability to view life in a more clear and comfortable way.

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Amblyopia: What Is Lazy Eye?

Amblyopia is when vision in one or both eyes does not develop properly during childhood. It is sometimes called lazy eye. Amblyopia is a common problem in babies and young children.

A child’s vision develops in the first few years of life . It is important to diagnose and treat amblyopia as early as possible. Otherwise, a child with amblyopia will not develop normal, healthy vision.

What Is the Cause of Lazy Eye?

Amblyopia can develop from other eye and vision problems. Here are some conditions that may cause amblyopia in a child.

Strabismus  is when the eyes point in two different directions. One eye may be focused straight ahead while the other turns in, out, up, or down. To avoid seeing double , the child's brain may ignore the image from the eye that is not focused straight ahead. But this can keep that eye from developing properly.

Refractive errors

Having a refractive error means being nearsighted , farsighted , or having astigmatism (distorted or blurry vision ). A child may have a refractive error that is worse in one eye. That eye can "turn off," and vision will not develop properly. This can be difficult to tell since the child's vision seems fine when using both eyes.

Cloudiness in the normally clear parts of the eye

Some children are born with a cataract , where the eye's normally clear  lens is cloudy. This can keep vision from developing properly in that eye.

Droopy eyelid

Ptosis, or a droopy eyelid , can block vision in a child’s developing eye and lead to amblyopia.

Your child might not be aware of having better vision in one eye than the other. And you may not realize it either unless your child has  strabismus or another eye problem you can see.

Amblyopia Diagnosis

Ophthalmologists diagnose amblyopia by checking to see if vision differs between the two eyes. To check a baby's or young child's vision, the ophthalmologist may cover one of the child's eyes and watch how well they can follow a moving object. The doctor may also watch how the child reacts when one eye is covered. If one eye has amblyopia and the other is covered, the child may try to look above or below the patch, pull it off or cry.

The ophthalmologist will do a complete medical eye exam , looking for other eye problems that could be affecting vision.

Poor vision in one eye does not always mean a child has amblyopia. In some cases, wearing  glasses to correct a refractive error in one eye can improve vision.

When Should a Child's Vision Be Tested?

All children should have their vision checked by their pediatrician, family physician, or ophthalmologist at or before entering pre-K or kindergarten. If there is a family history of misaligned eyes, childhood cataracts or serious eye disease, an ophthalmologist should check their eyes when they are an infant.

Most doctors test vision as part of a child's medical exam. If they see any sign of eye problems, they may send a child to an ophthalmologist for further tests.

Amblyopia Treatment

Amblyopia is usually corrected by making the child use their weaker eye . This is often done by putting a patch over the child’s stronger eye. In some cases,  eye drops can be used to blur vision in the stronger eye. Or the child may wear eyeglasses with a lens that blurs vision in that eye.

It generally takes several weeks to several months for vision to get stronger in the weaker eye. Once the child has better vision in that eye, they may need to wear an eye patch part-time for a few years. This helps keep their vision strong. Remember to keep all appointments with the child’s ophthalmologist who will carefully monitor your child’s vision.

How to Choose and Use an Eye Patch

An eye patch should be comfortable, yet remain firmly in place. It should also not allow the child to peek around its edges. Most drug stores have a variety of sizes and types of eye patches. Decorated fun patches are available online. Do not use the black eye patches with elastic bands or ties (such as a pirate-type patches). These are too easy for a child to remove or peek around. To wear the patch, simply attach it to the skin around your child’s eye.

If your child wears glasses, there are patches designed to attach to the lens. These may be good for children who are used to wearing a patch, but they are not as good for a child new to treatment. This is because the patch can slip or the child may learn to peek around it. If your child wears glasses and is not used to patching, it is best to attach the patch directly around the stronger eye underneath the glasses.

Keep Your Child from Taking Off the Eye Patch

Children do not like to have their stronger eye patched or blurred. However, you need to help your child do what is best for them. Otherwise, treatment will not work.

Try distracting the child or having them do something that keeps their attention. Or reward the child with a treat for wearing the patch.

It can take a while for your child to get used to wearing a patch. Over time, this should get easier for them and you. Remember that strengthening the weaker eye is the only way to develop healthy, normal vision.

If your child still takes off the patch, as a last resort, you might cover his or her hands with gloves, mittens, or socks.

Teach Your Child About the Eye Patch

Pre-school or school-age children might not want to wear an eye patch or use blurring eye drops. To help, parents should explain how important these treatments are to be able to see well. And reassure them that lots of children wear eye patches for the same reason.

Consider having a very young child practice putting an eye patch on a doll. Or let the child decorate his or her patch with crayons or markers.

Explain the amblyopia treatment to the child’s teacher. Ask the teacher to compliment the child on being so good about wearing the patch. Children thrive on positive feedback from their teachers.

Things to consider with patching treatment:

• In very rare instances it is possible to overuse the patch or blurring eye drops. This can affect vision in the stronger eye. Be sure to keep the child’s appointments with the ophthalmologist so that vision in both eyes can be closely monitored.
• The skin near your child’s eye patch can get irritated. To help, try a different size or type of patch, and angle the patch differently each day.
• Your child may initially be clumsy when wearing a patch. Try to keep an eye on your child when they are climbing stairs or being active.

Surgery to Correct Causes of Amblyopia

In some cases, the ophthalmologist will recommend surgery to correct certain eye problems causing amblyopia. After surgery, the child may need to keep wearing a patch or otherwise cover the stronger eye until their vision improves.

It is possible to prevent vision loss from amblyopia. For best results, amblyopia should be treated before a child reaches 7 or 8 years old. Many children do not like to have their stronger eye patched or blurred. However, you need to help your child do what is best for them.

Treating Amblyopia Using New Technology

A new treatment for amblyopia uses a virtual reality (VR) headset to help improve vision in children aged 4 to 7. A child watches videos wearing the headset, which helps them use their weaker eye. To learn more, ask your child’s ophthalmologist.

Treating Amblyopia for Better Lifelong Vision

When a child has amblyopia, it is important to make vision stronger in the weak eye. Even if eye problems causing amblyopia are corrected with glasses or surgery, the amblyopia itself must be treated. If not, the child may have lifelong vision problems.

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Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)

Featured Expert:

Edward Kuwera, M.D.

What is amblyopia?

Lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, is one of the most common eye disorders in children. Lazy eye occurs when vision in one (or possibly both) of the eyes is impaired because the eye and the brain are not properly working together. This condition is sometimes confused with strabismus , also known as a misalignment of the eyes.

What is the risk of developing lazy eye?

Lazy eye is present in approximately 2% – 4% of the U.S. population. The risk of developing the condition increases if a child:

• Is born prematurely
• Experiences a development delay
• Has a family history of lazy eye

What causes lazy eye?

There are three known causes of lazy eye:

Strabismus : Known as strabismic amblyopia, a misalignment of the eyes causes the brain to ignore input from the askew eye in order to avoid the confusion of double vision in a young developing brain. This eye then experiences a drop off or total loss in visual acuity as the brain favors the eye that is straight.

Refractive errors : Known as refractive amblyopia, poor visual development is caused by a difference in the amount of refractive error between the eyes. Although the child may have correct eye alignment, he or she may experience substantial nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism in one eye, while experiencing none of these symptoms in the other.

When this happens, the brain becomes dependent on the better eye, while largely ignoring the issues of the eye with more refractive error. This leads to a lack of use and amblyopia in that eye.

Obstruction of vision: Known as deprivation amblyopia, the obstruction of light from a child’s eye prevents the development of proper visual acuity. This can be caused by:

• Cataract (a cloudy lens)
• Droopy eyelid (ptosis)
• Corneal scar

How is lazy eye diagnosed?

Lazy eye is diagnosed through a routine eye exam. Your child’s first eye exam should take place between the ages of 6 and 12 months old. Pediatricians routinely screen for general eye problems.

Lazy Eye Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of lazy eye include:

• Misalignment of the eyes, or strabismus
• Poor depth perception and peripheral vision
• Repeated eye closure or squinting
• Eyes that don’t move in the same direction when the child is trying to focus.
• A persistent head turn or head tilt
• Persistent shaking of the eyes

Lazy Eye Treatment

Lazy eye is generally treated by forcing the nonworking eye to work more actively. Lazy eye should be treated in early childhood to prevent it from becoming permanent, but studies have shown that older children may also benefit from treatment.

The standard treatment method for lazy eye , an eye patch is placed on the stronger eye in order to restore the brain’s attention to the visual input from the weaker eye. This allows proper visual development to occur in the weaker eye.

Corrective lenses and glasses

When dealing with lazy eye from refractive errors, vision restoration can be achieved with vision correcting glasses or contact lenses. 

Atropine eye drops

Similar to the patch method, this treatment is administered in the form of eye drops into the stronger eye, which temporarily weakens its vision. This restores the connection between the brain and the weaker eye to strengthen its visual input.

This treatment involves constant dilation of the strong eye, which can bring about light sensitivity  and difficulty in clearly seeing near objects during treatment. This form of treatment is most useful for farsighted prescriptions.

Treatment of strabismic amblyopia often involves strabismus surgery to align the eyes. This surgery is typically followed by additional treatment methods such as the use of an eye patch on the stronger eye, atropine eye drops to the stronger eye, and/or eye therapy exercises to strengthen the weaker eye. In some cases, more than one strabismus surgery may be needed.

Treatment of deprivation amblyopia will usually require an operating room procedure, such as cataract surgery , droopy eyelid surgery or the surgical removal of corneal scars.

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Strabismus and amblyopia

What should I do if my child looks cross-eyed or his eyes seem to wander?

What is strabismus, how will i know if my child has strabismus, what's the treatment for strabismus, what causes strabismus, what is amblyopia, how will i know if my child has amblyopia, how can i test for amblyopia at home, what's the treatment for amblyopia.

If your child's eyes look crossed or misaligned, the problem could be strabismus (misaligned eyes) or amblyopia (lazy eye). Talk to his doctor, who will probably refer you to an ophthalmologist. Fortunately, these conditions can be successfully treated if detected early.

Note that it's normal for a newborn baby's eyes to wander or cross now and then, up to about 4 months of age. He's just getting the hang of making his eyes work together. If your baby's eyes seem crossed most of the time, though, or if it doesn't get better, talk with the doctor.

Strabismus is a lack of coordination between the eyes. If your child's eyes seem to point in different directions or not focus on the same object, strabismus could be the culprit.

Strabismus is a problem with the way the brain is controls the eyes, not with the eye muscles. (That's why experts don't usually recommend eye exercises for strabismus.)

If your child has strabismus and it isn't treated, his brain could start ignoring the input from one of his eyes, eventually causing the vision in the ignored eye to deteriorate. This condition is known as amblyopia or "lazy eye" (see below). Depth perception could also be damaged.

If your child has strabismus, his eyes may appear to be "crossed" or one may seem to drift inward, outward, or upward. When the eyes turn inward it's called esotropia, and when they turn out it's called exotropia. Strabismus can be constant (meaning the eyes are always crossed or misaligned) or intermittent (meaning it happens now and then).

In some cases a child's eyes appear crossed (especially when he looks to the right or the left) when in fact they're aligned. This is called pseudostrabismus.

The most common example of pseudostrabismus is pseudoesotropia, in which a child's eyes appear to cross inward when in fact it's an optical illusion caused by large eyelid folds or a wide nasal bridge. Your child's doctor can perform a simple examination to distinguish pseudostrabismus from true strabismus.

Strabismus that's a result of farsightedness can usually be corrected with glasses, especially if caught early. Strabismus that persists even when a child wears glasses may require surgical correction.

While the lack of coordination between the eyes centers in the brain, it's not possible to operate on the brain to change the alignment of the eyes. Instead, doctors operate on the eye muscles, which are accessible.

The surgery compensates for – rather than corrects – the problem. "If your car was steered by a computer and the computer kept telling the car to pull to the right, you could at least realign the wheels to the left to compensate," explains pediatric ophthalmologist James Ruben, a member of the AAP section on ophthalmology.

Sometimes strabismus is present at birth. The condition seems to run in families.

Strabismus can also show up in children with no family history – and when that's the case, it sometimes indicates a more significant vision problem. (Disorders such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome make strabismus more likely.)

Babies born prematurely or at low birth weight are at higher risk. Children who are farsighted also seem to be at higher risk.

Amblyopia (also called lazy eye) develops when the brain shuts off or suppresses vision in one eye. This can happen if your child's eyes are misaligned or if she can't see as well with one eye because of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or something that's blocking clear vision in that eye, like a cataract or a drooping eyelid.

About 3 to 6 percent of children under the age of 6 develop amblyopia. Treatment is most successful before age 5 or 6, although recent research shows that even older children may recover their vision. (Recovery is less assured in an older child, though.) If ignored, amblyopia can result in permanent vision loss.

Identifying the problem isn't easy because children can get along fine using only one eye. The less-used eye may look perfectly normal, even though your child isn't using it to see.

Your child's doctor should routinely test for amblyopia (as well as strabismus) by checking the eyes independently and together. But, as pediatric ophthalmologist Ruben says, "Moms are often the best screeners around because they're so connected with their children and often notice something that's not quite right sooner than any doctor."

It's also a good idea to occasionally test the vision in your child's eyes at home.

Here's a simple way to get an idea of whether your child's eyes are both pulling their weight:

Cover one of your child's eyes (it helps to have a partner for this). Hold an object (such as a teddy bear for a little one or a picture or a letter for an older child) in front of her.

See if she follows the object with her uncovered eye as you move it from side to side and up and down. (You can ask an older child to tell you what the letter is, or ask her something about the picture or object.) Then cover the other eye and see if she follows the object just as well – and as far.

It's a little tricky to test a baby, who may lose interest or become distracted before your informal test is over. But if one eye seems weaker, try testing it again another time – maybe starting with the other eye.

If your child consistently seems to be able to see better with one eye than the other, schedule an appointment with either your child's doctor for a vision screening test or an ophthalmologist, who can diagnose and treat the problem.

The first step is to address any underlying problem – by correcting the astigmatism or nearsightedness with glasses or removing a cataract with surgery, for example. Once that's taken care of, the goal is to encourage your child's brain to connect with the weaker eye, eventually improving its ability to see.

If your child has amblyopia due to a need for glasses, the glasses will act like a camera lens and help bring objects into focus on the back of the eye. Wearing them provides the brain will a clearer image, which may improve the eye-brain connection. But if your child's eyes naturally focus light properly, glasses won't help with the amblyopia.

Instead, your doctor will probably recommend covering your child's stronger eye with a patch or using eyedrops once a day to blur the vision in that eye. Either of those will force the brain to use the weaker eye. The process could take weeks, months, or even years.

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Red flags: Signs that your child may have a vision problem

Red flags: Signs that your baby may have a vision problem

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BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

AAPOS. Undated. Strabismus. American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. http://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/100 Opens a new window

Medscape. Undated. Pseudoexotropia.

MedlinePlus. 2012. Strabismus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001004.htm Opens a new window [Accessed April 2016]

MedlinePlus. Undated. Retinopathy of prematurity. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001618.htm Opens a new window

Nemours Foundation. Undated. Strabismus. http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/strabismus.html Opens a new window

UpToDate. 2014. Patient information: Crossed eyes and lazy eye (the basics). http://www.uptodate.com/contents/crossed-eyes-and-lazy-eye-the-basics?source=see_link Opens a new window

UpToDate. 2013. Evaluation and management of strabismus in children. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/evaluation-and-management-of-strabismus-in-children Opens a new window [Accessed April 2016]

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Lazy Eye: Causes and Treatment

• Vision Problems
• Daily Management

If you or your child has a lazy eye ( amblyopia ), one eye is sending unclear images to the brain. while both eyes can be affected, usually amblyopia affects just one eye, with the brain relying on the stronger eye for visual information.

A lazy eye, which some people are born with, is the primary source of vision loss in kids, but adults with vision trouble in one of their eyes also can develop lazy eye later in life.

This article will discuss the causes of lazy eye, vision problems it causes, diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health

How Do You Get Lazy Eye?

Lazy eye can develop anytime an eye is not functioning properly and fails to send sharp images to the brain. It is most common in young children. The condition affects up to 3 out of 100 children. Typically this happens in the following instances:

• If one eye over the other is much more nearsighted (able to see near objects more clearly than distant objects) or farsighted (able to see distant objects more clearly than near objects), the brain will begin to ignore the eye sending the fuzzier signals.
• In cases of strabismus , a condition in which the eyes focus on different images, such as if one eye wanders to the side instead of looking straight ahead, the brain will have to choose which eye to rely on for information. It then begins to ignore the other.
• If the normally clear lens (the structure that focuses light on the retina) develops a cataract (a clouding of the lens), after a while, the brain will tune out signals from the eye and will potentially never see normally.

These eye conditions are more likely to occur in some people than others. Those at risk for developing a lazy eye include children who were premature at birth or had a low birth weight and those who come from families where someone else has amblyopia.

Treatment: Can You "Fix" a Lazy Eye?

Effectively treating a lazy eye means first understanding what's causing it while aiming to correct the vision in the weaker eye. Treatment is particularly effective in children under the age 7 whose vision is still developing. Some treatments to consider include:

• Wear glasses to sharpen vision, particularly in the weaker eye.
• Put a patch over the stronger eye several hours a day to allow the brain to begin to rely on the weaker eye.
• Temporarily blur vision in the stronger eye with atropine drops .
• Surgically correct things interfering with vision, such as a drooping eyelid or a cataract .
• Watch videos wearing a virtual reality headset to strengthen the weaker eye (in children ages 4 to 7).
• Perform eye exercises to strengthen the weak eye .
• Undergo muscle surgery to allow the eyes to work better together.

Eye doctors, such as ophthalmologists, encourage early treatment. Seek treatment even if the lazy eye is not discovered until later or there is some other obstacle. Don't consider it to be too late.

Research suggests that even adults can potentially improve their vision. Although it was once believed that the vision center of the adult brain could not hold on to any new experiences or information, research has shown that this is not true, and it is possible to improve vision somewhat.

Identifying Lazy Eye

It helps to know the symptoms of lazy eye to be able to identify it in your child or yourself. Symptoms can be subtle and include:

• A tendency to shut one eye
• Tilting the head to see better
• Squinting to see more clearly
• Eyes that appear to be working on their own rather than together
• Eyes that are inwardly or outwardly turned
• Trouble with depth perception
• Decreased vision in one eye

Because signs in children may be subtle and difficult to discern, it's important to take children between the ages of 3 and 5 for regular vision screenings.

The cause of lazy eye will determine whether and when surgery is needed. For instance, if an infant has a dense cataract, surgery will need to be performed right away. But if the child is older and the cataract is just a small dot, the eye doctor may try other measures first, like patching the eye that doesn't have the cataract.

For children with strabismus (depending on their age), the eye surgeon may want to perform eye muscle surgery as early as possible. Those under age 4 tend to have better outcomes than older children.

While strabismus surgery typically ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 out of pocket, much of the cost usually is covered by insurance.

Vision Problems With Lazy Eye

If children with lazy eye are treated early enough (before age 5), they tend to recover fully, with no lingering vision problems. But if treatment is delayed, the child may have problems with depth perception . Those over age 10 may only recover some vision with treatment and may have some permanent vision loss in the affected eye.

Keep in mind that the impairment in the eye can be mild, with vision in the 20/30 range, or severe, leaving the child legally blind in the eye with 20/200 vision.

Amblyopia Daily Management

In many cases, amblyopia is managed daily with treatments like using drops or patching the stronger eye for a period of time.

If patching is used, you'll initially be asked to cover the stronger eye for about two hours daily. The eye doctor will then monitor vision every six to 12 weeks. If there is not enough improvement, you or your child will be asked to wear the patch up to six hours daily.

Getting a child to keep a patch on can be challenging but is of utmost importance. Some strategies to try if a child resists include the following:

• Rewarding the child for using the patch with computer, device, or TV time
• Motivating them with stickers on a patching chart or diary for hours when the patch is worn

The use of atropine drops is an alternative to patching. Each day a drop is placed in the stronger eye to widen the pupil . It then forces the other eye to be used for close-up tasks like reading.

Also, each day you can encourage your child to perform eye exercises to strengthen the weaker eye, such as the following:

• Viewing dots
• Coloring within the lines
• Playing computer games
• Following an object like a lollipop stick
• Viewing stereograms (a two-dimensional image that can cause an optical illusion if viewed in a certain way)
• Eye relaxation

These can be fun exercises for your child and work to alleviate lazy eye.

Amblyopia (lazy eye) usually affects one eye. With this, the brain begins to rely on vision signals from the stronger eye and ignore those from the weaker, "lazy" one. Reasons why a lazy eye may develop include a cataract, which makes it difficult to see out of the eye; strabismus, in which the eyes are focusing on different points; and a difference in refractive error, in which one eye sees better than the other.

Treatment ranges from patching the stronger eye or blurring with drops, to surgery to remove any obstruction that may cause the vision to be unclear, such as a cataract or drooping lid.

National Eye Institute. Amblyopia (lazy eye) .

Stanford Medicine. Causes and risk factors for lazy eye .

National Health Service. Lazy eye .

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Amblyopia: what is lazy eye?

National Health Service. Orthoptic exercises young person .

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Amblyopia: types, diagnosis, treatment, and new perspectives .

Levi DM. Rethinking amblyopia 2020 . Vision Res . 2020;176:118-129. doi:10.1016/j.visres.2020.07.014

Mount Sinai. Amblyopia .

Boston Children's Hospital. Amblyopia .

Review of Optometry. Recommended strabismus surgery as early as possible.

NVision. The cost of strabismus surgery or correction.

Penn Medicine. Amblyopia (lazy eye).

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Amblyopia treatment modalities.

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

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About lazy eye or amblyopia

Children with lazy eye can’t see properly or at all out of one eye.

Lazy eye develops when the part of the brain that controls how a child sees starts to favour one eye , and the other eye gets weaker as a result. This often happens because of a squint . It can also happen because of short-sightedness , long-sightedness and astigmatism , or when the eyes can’t focus equally.

Structural problems with the eye can also cause lazy eye. Examples of these problems are scars on the cornea, irregularly shaped pupils, droopy eyelids or cataracts .

Sometimes lazy eye has no clear underlying cause.

Lazy eye affects 2-4% of children. It often develops during infancy or early childhood.

Premature babies or babies with low birth weight have an increased chance of getting lazy eye. Lazy eye is also more likely if there’s a family history of eye problems.

Lazy eye is also known as amblyopia.

Signs and symptoms of lazy eye

Children with lazy eye often have no obvious symptoms . They might not look any different from other children or seem to have any problems with their vision.

But in some children, you might notice that:

• one eye turns in a different direction from the other
• one eye is fully or partially shut
• their head is always turned or tilted to one side
• they bump into things more often than other children the same age.

Occasionally, older children with lazy eye will say that they can’t see clearly.

Regular eye examinations: why they’re important

Because it can be hard to tell whether young children have lazy eye, regular eye examinations are the best way to detect this condition .

All children should have an eye test:

• before they start preschool, when they’re 3-3½ years old
• in their first year of school.

Most states and territories run free vision screening programs through local child and family health services or schools. Check with your child and family health nurse or school about what’s offered in your area.

Does your child need to see a health professional about lazy eye symptoms?

Yes. If you notice that your child has any of the signs above or you’re worried about your child’s vision, start by seeing your  GP or child and family health nurse . They can refer your child to an optometrist or ophthalmologist if your child needs more tests and checks.

Tests for lazy eye

If your child is referred to an optometrist or ophthalmologist to test for lazy eye, this professional will carefully examine your child’s eyes and vision to diagnose lazy eye and work out what’s causing it.

Lazy eye diagnosis involves various tests and tools. For example, the optometrist or ophthalmologist:

• will check your child’s vision using an eye chart that has letters or symbols on it
• might use medication like eye drops to measure the focus of your child’s eyes
• might use equipment like a retinoscope to work out whether glasses might help your child’s lazy eye.

Early diagnosis and treatment of lazy eye is essential. The earlier lazy eye is treated, the better the outcomes are for children. If lazy eye is left untreated, it can cause permanent vision loss.

Treatment for lazy eye

Lazy eye in children can usually be corrected with the right treatment.

Treatments for lazy eye aim to strengthen the lazy eye and get it working properly . The specific cause of lazy eye in each individual child guides their treatment.

Patching is a common treatment. Patching is when your child wears a sticky patch over their stronger eye for a period of time each day – usually 1-4 hours. The patch might go directly onto your child’s skin. If your child wears glasses, the patch goes over one lens.

To start with, your child might need patching for several hours a day, seven days a week. As your child’s vision improves, they’ll need fewer hours and/or fewer days of patching each week. If your child’s lazy eye is severe, patching might go on for several years.

Some children don’t cope well with patching. If patching is hard for your child, your child’s optometrist or ophthalmologist might give your child special eye drops instead. These blur the vision in the stronger eye.

Sometimes children need to do special exercises to make their lazy eye stronger.

Depending on the cause of the lazy eye, your child might also need to wear glasses .

If your child has a lazy eye, they‘ll need regular check-ups so your child’s optometrist or ophthalmologist can monitor the progress of treatment.

Your child’s optometrist or ophthalmologist might work closely with an orthoptist to treat your child’s lazy eye.

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Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) in Children (Parent information)

Patient information a-z, what is amblyopia.

Amblyopia is a reduction in vision of one or both eyes, which persists even after glasses (if necessary) have been worn. It is often referred to as ‘lazy eye’. This is usually a result of an interruption in the visual development during early childhood, from birth to seven years. It is, therefore, extremely important that any treatment for amblyopia occurs during this time. If amblyopia is left untreated, the vision will be permanently impaired.

The causes of amblyopia

Amblyopia can be caused by:

• A turn in the eye, which is known as a squint (or strabismus).
• A difference in long sightedness (hypermetropia), short sightedness (myopia) or astigmatism between the two eyes.
• An obstacle blocking visual stimulation to the eye. For example, a droopy eyelid or cataract (a cloudy lens within the eye).

The diagnosis of amblyopia

An Orthoptist will detect a difference in the vision between the two eyes and assess the eyes for any factors that can contribute to amblyopia developing i.e. a squint or droopy eyelid. An Ophthalmologist/Optometrist will examine the back of the eyes, assess any need for glasses and if there is a reason for the reduced vision.

Treatment of amblyopia

To support your child to develop the best possible vision in both eyes.

Glasses treatment

Glasses will be prescribed if there is any significant long or short sightedness, or astigmatism. We would usually expect children to wear glasses for all waking hours unless instructed otherwise.

Patching treatment

If the vision remains reduced in the “lazy” eye after glasses have been worn for up to 16 weeks, the usual treatment for amblyopia is to wear a patch over the good eye that will, in turn, stimulate the vision in the poorer sighted eye.

If your child wears glasses, an adhesive patch is usually worn directly on the face with glasses on top. Alternative patches include colourful fabric patches worn over glasses, behind the lens.

Occlusion does not replace the need for glasses, nor does it eliminate any squint. The length of time the patch will need to be worn will depend on the amount of amblyopia present. The poorer the vision, the more hours each day the patch will need to be worn.

Good compliance is essential to ensure treatment is effective. Generally, the most improvement of vision in the amblyopic eye happens within the first few months (depending on the type of amblyopia), and then there is a gradual improvement until eight months. Amblyopia treatment will need to be continued until your child’s vision is considered no longer at risk.

Unfortunately, children do not always understand why they need to patch their good eye and so the treatment can sometimes be difficult. Give lots of praise and incentives when the patch is worn well to prevent the patch being removed.

Atropine treatment

Occasionally atropine drops/ointment may be used in the good eye instead. This blurs the vision in the good eye and encourages the vision in the weaker eye to develop. This treatment is usually only used if patching fails. The orthoptist will advise you whether this is an option for your child and a separate leaflet is available for further information.

Risks/complications

Children can occasionally have an allergic reaction to the adhesive patches. If the skin around the eye becomes sore, you should mention this to your orthoptist, who will be able to suggest other types of patches (please see the contact numbers below).

In older children there is a very small risk of them developing double vision when the patch is removed. If this happens, you should discontinue using the patch and contact the orthoptic department immediately. The orthoptist will monitor the risk of this happening and will stop any treatment if the risk becomes too high.

Vision may reduce once the treatment has stopped, in some cases. In these circumstances, patching may be restarted.

Activities and patching

Doing detailed work is good for your child whilst wearing the patch. Activities could include reading, drawing, colouring, dot-to-dots or any other fun activity that requires focus and concentration. In school-age children, it can often be a good idea for your child to wear the patch at school. Parents usually find that teachers are very supportive of our treatment but you would need to discuss this with your child’s teacher.

Fabric patches are usually introduced once patching is progressing well. It is important that the child does not peep around the patch.

When one eye is patched, the child has no 3D vision, may struggle to judge distances and will have a reduced field of vision.

It is important to remember that your child is relying on the poorer eye to see. Care should be taken for situations where a child may not be closely supervised by an adult

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment, or have run out of patches, please contact the orthoptic department on the numbers below.

Contact and further information

Please contact any of the following between 08:30 to 16:45, Monday to Friday:

Orthoptists: 01223 216528 or email the orthoptics team

Paediatric Ophthalmology Nurses: 01223 596414 Email the paediatric opthalmology nurses The above has a 24-hour answer machine service.

Clinic 3: 01223 806000

References / Sources of evidence

Royal College of Ophthalmology and British and Irish Orthoptic Society guidelines for the treatment of amblyopia.

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This document was correct at the time of printing - 12-05-2024 11:54

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

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Development

Postpartum recovery & tips, getting pregnant, am i pregnant, preconception health, stages of pregnancy, miscarriage, diet & fitness, labor & delivery, preparing for a baby, motherhood tools, due date calculator, zodiac center, baby name generator, what are the first signs of lazy eye in infants.

By: Peter Mitchell

28 November, 2018

The condition amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye, causes vision problems in around 2 percent of all infants. Lazy eye occurs when one eye struggles to see properly.

Over time, an infant will favor the other eye, further weakening the problem eye.

The first signs of lazy eyes in infants vary depending on the child. But, a few key symptoms mark the onset of this condition.

Outward Symptoms

Infants with a lazy eye often have one eye that wanders inward or at a different angle. Similarly, the eyes sometimes become crossed for prolonged periods. Because an infant won't tell you that her vision is fuzzy, you must keep a close watch on how her eyes move and behave.

A lazy eye may also make one eyelid droop, or cause an infant to close one eye more often than the other. As she gets a little older, she may use her hand to cover the lazy eye to help focus.

Eye Rolling in Infants

A baby that can't focus properly often squints with one or both eyes. The authors of "Children's Health for Dummies" suggest looking for early signs of squinting from 4 months of age.

Hold a colorful toy about 8 inches from your baby's face. Slowly move the toy left and right. Your baby's eyes should follow the toy. An eye that stays in place while the other moves, or eyes that go crossed or at strange angles might suggest a lazy eye.

Normal Symptoms

In the first 4 months after birth a baby's vision is still blurry and developing fast.

As your child adjusts to the new environment, her eyes might occasionally cross or flicker. This is a normal part of infant development. If the eyes stay crossed or looking in different directions for several hours at a time or longer, speak to your doctor. In some cases, this may suggest the conditions strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes in infants, rather than lazy eye.

Considerations

Causes of One Tearing Eye

Early signs of lazy eye in infants usually don't include inflammation, pus or itchy fluid. Any of these symptoms may suggest another eye condition, such as a blocked tear duct, conjunctivitis or even cataracts. The only way to know for sure if your infant has a lazy eye is to take him to a doctor or ophthalmologist. These medical professionals use light-emitting equipment or specialist eye drops to help look for any problems with the lens, pupil or eye in general.

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How to Use a Patch to Strengthen an Eye

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Development of Depth Perception in Infants

Sundowning in Infants

Characteristics of a Visually Impaired Child

• NHS Choices; Lazy Eye; March 2009
• UIC Department of Opthalmology and Visual Sciences; Your Baby's Eyes; Lawrence M. Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D.
• "Children's Health for Dummies"; Katy Holland, et al.; 2006

Based near London, U.K., Peter Mitchell has been a journalist and copywriter for over eight years. Credits include stories for "The Guardian" and the BBC. Mitchell is an experienced player and coach for basketball and soccer teams, and has written articles on nutrition, health and fitness. He has a First Class Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from Bristol University.

Into astrology? Check out our Zodiac Center!

• 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
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• How Much Do Glasses Cost?
• Cheap Glasses
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• Styles: Trends in Men's Glasses
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Everything you need to know about your baby’s vision

By Gary Heiting, OD , and Adam Debrowski

A newborn’s vision takes time to develop

The first time a baby opens their eyes and makes eye contact is one of the greatest moments a new parent can experience. But don’t be concerned if that moment doesn’t happen right away.

A baby’s vision will take some time to develop. In the first week of life, babies don’t see much detail. Their first view of the world is indistinct and only in shades of gray.

It takes several months for your newborn’s eyesight to develop fully. Knowing the milestones of your baby’s vision development — and what you can do to help it along — ensures your child is seeing properly and enjoying their world to the fullest as soon as possible.

Baby vision development starts during pregnancy

Your baby’s vision starts to develop before they’re even born.

How you care for your own body during your pregnancy is extremely important for the development of your baby’s body and mind, including the eyes and the vision centers in the brain .

Be sure to follow the instructions your OB-GYN gives you regarding proper nutrition , including supplements, and get the proper amount of rest you need during your pregnancy.

Avoid smoking and consuming alcohol or drugs during pregnancy, as these toxins can cause multiple problems for your baby, including serious eyesight problems.

Smoking is particularly hazardous during pregnancy, as cigarette smoke contains an estimated 3,000 different chemicals that can potentially harm humans — including carbon monoxide, a known fetal toxin.

Even taking common medications like aspirin can be dangerous to your baby when you are pregnant, increasing the risk of low birth weight and problems during delivery. Low birth weight has been associated with an increased risk of vision problems in infants.

Always talk to your OB-GYN before taking any medications during your pregnancy, including over-the-counter medicines, herbal supplements and other non-prescription remedies.

SEE RELATED: How pregnancy can affect your vision

Newborn vision at birth

Soon after birth, your doctor will briefly examine your infant’s eyes to rule out signs of congenital cataracts or other serious neonatal eye problems. Though such eye problems are rare, they must be detected and treated early to minimize their impact on your child’s vision development.

An antibiotic ointment is usually applied to your newborn’s eyes to help prevent an eye infection from bacteria present in the birth canal.

At birth, your baby only sees in black, white and shades of gray, since the nerve cells that control vision in the retina and brain aren’t fully developed.

At this stage, a newborn’s eyes can’t focus on near objects. Don’t be concerned if your baby doesn’t seem to be “focusing” on objects, including your face. It just takes time.

Despite these visual limitations, studies show that, within a few days after birth, infants prefer looking at an image of their mother’s face to that of a stranger. [Read more about the importance of eye contact for child development .]

Researchers believe this preference depends on large, high-contrast stimuli, like the boundary of the mother’s hairline to her face. In studies, if these boundaries were masked with a scarf or bathing cap, the infants’ preference of looking at their mother’s face went away.

To encourage visual interaction with your newborn child, try to keep your hairstyle the same and avoid altering your appearance.

One thing you may notice about your newborn son or daughter is how large their eyes are. This is because normal infant development proceeds from the head down.

At birth, your baby’s eyes are already 65% of their adult size!

SEE RELATED: What nursery colors are best for a baby's vision?

Your baby’s eyes: The first month

Your baby’s eyes are not very sensitive to light in the first month after birth.

In fact, the amount of light required for a 1-month-old infant to be aware that light is present is 50 times higher than that of an adult.

That means that it’s okay to leave some lights on in the nursery. It won’t affect their ability to sleep, and it may keep you from stubbing your toe in the dark room.

Infants start to develop the ability to see in colors very quickly. One week after birth they can see red, orange, yellow and green, but it takes a little longer for your infant to be able to see blue and violet.

Why? Blue light has shorter wavelengths, and fewer color receptors exist in the human eye for blue light.

Don’t be too concerned if your baby’s eyes don’t always appear to be working together as a team early on.

One eye may occasionally drift inward or outward from proper alignment. This is normal, but if you see a large and constant misalignment, notify your eye doctor.

To help stimulate your baby’s eyesight during this period:

Decorate their room with bright, cheerful colors.

Include artwork and furnishings with contrasting colors and shapes.

Try hanging a brightly colored mobile that features a variety of colors and shapes.

Months 2 and 3

Baby vision makes several important advances during months two and three. Infants develop sharper visual acuity during this period, and their eyes begin to move better as a team.

By this point, your baby should be following moving objects with their eyes and reaching for things they see.

Infants at this stage of development are learning how to shift their gaze from one object to another without having to move their head.

Their eyes are now becoming more sensitive to light. At 3 months, an infant’s light detection threshold is only 10 times that of an adult. You may now want to dim the lights a bit more while they’re sleeping.

To help stimulate your 2- to 3-month-old baby’s vision development, the American Optometric Association recommends:

Add new items to their room or frequently change the location of existing items, including their crib.

Talk to your baby as you walk around the room.

Keep a night light on to provide visual stimulation when your child is awake in their crib.

Let your baby crawl. While infants should be placed on their backs for sleep to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), put them on their stomachs when they are awake and you can supervise them. This provides important visual and motor experiences.

Months 4 to 6

By age 6 months, significant advances have taken place in the vision centers of the brain, allowing your infant to see more distinctly and move their eyes more quickly and accurately while they follow moving objects.

Visual acuity improves from about 20/400 at birth to roughly 20/25 at 6 months of age. Color vision should be similar to that of an adult as well, enabling your child to see all the colors of the rainbow.

Babies also have better hand-eye coordination at 4 to 6 months of age, allowing them to quickly locate and pick up objects. That includes accurately directing a bottle — and many other things — toward their mouth.

Six months of age is also an important milestone because it’s when your child should have their first children’s eye exam (unless complications arise before this time).

Even though your baby can’t read the letters on an eye chart , your eye doctor can perform non-verbal testing to assess their visual acuity, detect nearsightedness , farsightedness and astigmatism , and evaluate eye teaming and alignment.

At this exam, your eye care practitioner will also check the health of your baby’s eyes and look for anything that might interfere with normal and continuing vision development.

For the most thorough eye exam for your 6-month-old, you may want to seek the services of an eye doctor who specializes in children’s eyesight and vision development.

SEE RELATED: What should my child expect at their first eye exam?

Months 7 to 12

Your child is now mobile, crawling about and covering more distance than you could ever have imagined. They are better at judging distances and more accurate at grasping and throwing objects.

This is an important developmental period for your child. At this stage, infants are developing a better overall awareness of their body and learning how to coordinate their vision with their movements.

It’s also a time that requires more diligence on your part to keep your baby from harm.

Bumps, bruises, eye injuries and other serious accidents can occur as they start to physically explore their environment. In particular, keep cabinets locked and put barriers in front of stairs.

Don’t be concerned if your infant’s eyes are starting to change color.

Most babies are born with blue eyes because darker pigments in the iris aren’t completely developed at birth. Over time, more dark pigment is produced, which can change your child’s eye color from blue to brown, green, gray or a mixture of colors — as is the case with hazel eyes or heterochromia .

READ NEXT: Vision problems of preschool children

To stimulate the development of your child’s hand-eye coordination:

Get down on the floor with your baby and encourage them to crawl toward objects.

Place a favorite toy on the floor just out of reach and encourage them to get it.

Provide plenty of safe objects and toys that they can take apart and put together.

Eye alignment problems

Be sure to pay close attention to how well your baby’s eyes work together as a team.

Strabismus is the term for a misalignment of the eyes. It’s important to detect and treat it early so your baby’s vision develops properly in both eyes.

Left untreated, strabismus can lead to amblyopia , commonly known as “lazy eye.”

It takes a few months for newborn eyes to develop coordination skills, but don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician or eye doctor if you feel one of your baby’s eyes is misaligned or doesn’t move in sync with the other eye.

READ NEXT:  What Is Hypertelorism?

Premature babies and eyesight problems

The average length of a normal pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks. Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature, according to the World Health Organization .

Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of giving birth prematurely.

Premature babies are at greater risk of eye problems than full-term babies, and the odds increase the earlier the child is born.

Two vision problems are more common in premature babies:

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

ROP is the abnormal replacement of normal tissue in the retina with fibrous tissue and blood vessels. It can cause scarring of the retina, poor vision and retinal detachment . In severe cases, retinopathy of prematurity can lead to blindness.

All premature babies are at risk of ROP. Very low birth weight is an additional risk factor, especially if it is necessary to place the infant in a high-oxygen environment immediately after birth.

If your baby is born prematurely, ask your obstetrician to refer you to a pediatric ophthalmologist so they can perform an internal eye exam and rule out ROP.

Nystagmus is an involuntary, back-and-forth movement of both eyes.

In most cases, nystagmus causes the eyes to drift slowly in one direction and then “jump” back in the other direction. The eye movements are usually horizontal, but they can be diagonal or rotational as well.

Nystagmus can be present at birth, or it may develop weeks to months later. Risk factors include albinism , congenital cataracts and incomplete development of the optic nerve .

The magnitude of the eye movements will usually determine how much the baby’s vision and visual development will be affected.

If your baby shows signs of nystagmus, consult a pediatric ophthalmologist or other eye doctor as soon as possible.

No-cost eye exams for infants

If you can’t afford an eye exam for your baby , help is available.

Developed by the American Optometric Association in partnership with The Vision Care Institute, InfantSEE is a public health program designed to make sure vision care becomes a part of infant wellness routines in the United States.

Under this program, member optometrists offer a no-cost first eye assessment for infants within their first year of life.

To learn more about InfantSEE and to find a participating optometrist, visit the InfantSEE website .

READ MORE: Do your eyes grow?

Page published on Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Schedule an exam

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Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS)

Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN)

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Pronounced wandering eye

https://pedseye.com/our-doctors/julie-n-nam/

I can’t remember if there is an office for Long Island but we used to see her in one of the 2 manhattan locations before they opened a westchester location. She’s really good with kids and answering any questions you might have but only downside is the office usually runs behind so there may be a wait.

If she or any other doctor you see says to try glasses, I would question it especially if they think surgery will ultimately be the journey’s end. I bought glasses for my son but he ultimately never used them/they did not correct it so it wound up being an extra expense we possibly could have avoided until now at 3. I was willing to try anything at the time but if my second winds up also being crossed I will just opt to patch and see if the lenses in the office they use as part of testing show any ability to correct it before going out and buying another pair that might not get used.

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• Baby & Toddler
• Baby Health & Wellness

Is Your Newborn Cross-Eyed? Here’s Why

If you could spend hours gazing into your little one’s eyes , you’re not alone. But if you notice your newborn is cross-eyed, it’s understandable to have questions. It’s important to note that having crossed eyes is pretty common in babies—and it typically goes away on its own. That said, here are a few things to keep in mind from pediatric experts.

Is It Normal That My Newborn Is Cross-Eyed?

Yes, it’s totally normal for your newborn to be cross-eyed. “We get asked about this a lot,” says Naline Lai , MD, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Robert Hamilton , MD, a pediatrician at Providence-Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, and host of the podcast The Hamilton Review: Where Kids and Culture Collide , says he wouldn’t necessarily call it “normal,” but that it’s common. “You see it frequently in new babies—their eyes tend to look around, they wander,” he says.

For the first two months of life or so, a baby’s eyes don’t work well together, explains Jennifer Fogt , OD, an assistant professor in the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University. “It often can be normal, especially if it only happens momentarily,” she says.

What Causes Crossed Eyes in Newborns and Babies?

You likely have a cross-eyed baby simply because they’re still developing. “Babies don’t have fully developed visual systems at birth,” Fogt says. Eye muscles are also weak at first, Lai says. “They need to be strengthened.”

Sometimes, there are more serious factors at play, says Lai. Risk factors include being born premature or with a low birth weight and having cerebral palsy, she adds.

Symptoms of a Cross-Eyed Baby

A cross-eyed baby can have eyes that drift inward and don’t look at things straight on, Lai says. “One trick we use is we shine a light at baby’s eyes and see where the light reflex falls,” she says. “That little glimmer of light on the eyeball should land on the same spot on both eyes.”

When Will Baby’s Eyes Stop Crossing?

Every child is different, but most experts say that a baby’s eyes will typically stop crossing by about 4 months. “If it goes beyond 3 or 4 months, I’ll refer them to an ophthalmologist,” Hamilton says. “In kids, the [eye] muscles can be slow to mature.”

Treatment for Cross-Eyed Baby

If baby’s eyes aren’t working together by 4 months or so, they might have strabismus , a condition that happens when eyes don’t line up or when one or both eyes wander. It can run in families, and can be caused by a problem with the eye muscles.

“Strabismus is a concern in baby, because baby’s only using one eye and can’t develop normal vision in the eye that’s not being used,” Fogt says.

If you think baby might need treatment for crossed eyes, make sure to ask your pediatrician to refer you to an eye doctor who works with infants, Fogt says. “An optometrist who works with infants or a pediatric ophthalmologist must perform a dilated eye exam to determine the cause of an eye turn and the type of treatment needed,” she says.

There are a few possibilities for treatment, including putting a patch over one of baby’s eyes. “If one eye is not being used, the cause is determined, and then eye-patching of the ‘good’ eye is done to make sure the other eye is used and can develop vision,” Fogt says. Your provider can also use eye drops to dilate the stronger eye to encourage baby to use their weaker eye to focus, Hamilton says. Glasses are also an option, as is surgery.

If you’re concerned about baby’s crossed eyes, make sure to bring it up with your provider. “The sooner strabismus is treated, the less likely that extended eye-patching will be needed, and the more likely baby will grow up to have two great-seeing eyes,” Fogt says.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

When Can Babies See Clearly?

How to Clean a Baby’s Ears

How to Build a Baby First-Aid Kit

Jennifer Fogt , OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, is an assistant professor in the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University. She earned her Doctor of Optometry and Master of Science in Pharmacology degrees from The Ohio State University.

Robert Hamilton , MD, is a pediatrician at Providence-Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, and the host of the podcast The Hamilton Review: Where Kids and Culture Collide . He earned his medical degree from the University of California Los Angeles.

Naline Lai , MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Nemours KidsHealth, Strabismus , March 2022

Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process .

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Parents thought baby had lazy eye but it turned out to be rare cancer

Despite four rounds of chemotherapy and seven surgeries - and being on the verge of starting proton beam therapy - little Sol has apparently kept smiling throughout the ordeal

• 10:00, 9 MAY 2024
• Updated 15:22, 9 MAY 2024

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Parents who thought their baby had a lazy eye were shocked to discover it was actually a sign of rare cancer - before the tot had his left eye removed. Becky Flower, 34, gave birth to little Sol, 13 months, on March 9, 2023, and says he was the "easiest baby" as he never cried.

But soon after Sol's birth, Becky and her partner, Damien Stephens, 43, a technician, noticed a problem with his sight - as the shape of his left eye was changing. They took the tot to Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, in Cornwall, and were referred to the specialist eye department before being sent to Royal Cornwall Hospital.

After an MRI scan, Sol was transferred to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital where a biopsy revealed he had a primitive myxoid mesenchymal tumour behind his eye - a rare sarcoma that affects infants. Sol underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and seven surgeries - including, biopsies and two operations to remove the tumour - where they removed his eye and the tumour.

The surgeon was only able to remove 95 per cent of the tumour and Sol is about to start proton beam therapy - a type of radiotherapy that uses a beam of high-energy protons to target the tumour. Becky, who cares full time for Sol, from Illogan, Cornwall, said: "He has the nickname 'super Sol' he has smashed it completely.

"He has been smiling throughout, he has been amazing throughout it all. We just thought he might have had a lazy eye - we were so shocked when we found out it was cancer. He does have days where he can't be himself as the chemicals from the drugs have beaten him - he does have bad days."

Sol was born on March 9, 2023, weighing 7lbs 10oz at Royal Cornwall Hospital. Becky said Sol was the "perfect baby" as he rarely ever cried but noticed his eyes were different.

She said: "His eyes weren't matching. We went for a weighing down at our community drop-in centre and they mentioned his eye too."

Becky and Damien took Sol to hospital - where he underwent examinations. Becky said: "Sol was only five months old at this point and they did an MRI. They referred us to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital and sent the MRI up there."

In October 2023, Sol had a biopsy on his eye - which revealed a tumour had started to grow rapidly behind his eye and would push on his left eye causing his eye to change shape.

She said: "By this point we still didn't know it was cancer, but because the tumour became so aggressive Sol had an emergency operation to remove it.

"We stayed in Birmingham for a few nights and we went home. When we got home we got the call to say that Sol had cancer. It was an absolute shock, we were seeing all the specialists and having check-ups to monitor his eye. They thought it might be a cyst or a strawberry birthmark but they never thought it would be cancer."

After Sol was diagnosed, Becky said she went into "utter shock". Becky and Damien noticed that the tumour had grown back after his eye started changing shape and Sol would need chemotherapy at Bristol Children's Hospital.

Becky said: "Days later he started his first round of chemo. He also had an operation to remove part of his testicle as the chemo would make him infertile. He had four rounds of chemotherapy and then an operation in February 2024 to remove the tumour and his eye."

Doctors were able to remove 95 per cent of the tumour but the other five per cent was left due to its location. Now, chemotherapy is not killing the cancer so Sol is about to start proton beam therapy.

Becky said: "This is the last roll of the dice, he will have therapy every day for six to seven weeks. The chemo is not managing to kill or shrink the cancer at all and a surgery to remove what is left is far too dangerous."

Becky and Damien have also started a JustGiving page to support them as they have both had to stay off work to look after Sol full-time. Becky said: "We have smashed through our wedding fund which we had £10k saved for.

"The money we have generated throughout the years has also gone due to travel and other expenses. We haven't been able to work since his diagnosis because, due to his age, he needs round-the-clock care."

A family friend, Tash, is aiming to run 5km every day throughout September to raise money for Sol and has already raised over £4,000.

To donate, visit - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/natasha-diment?utm_term=QbXvwPn83

• Most Recent

Parents thought baby had 'lazy eye' - but it was rare cancer

Little Sol had to have his left eye removed due to the cancer

Parents who thought their baby had a lazy eye were shocked to discover it was actually a sign of rare cancer. And the tot has tragically had to have his left eye removed.

Becky Flower, 34, gave birth to little Sol, 13 months, on 9 March, 2023, and says he was the "easiest baby" as he never cried. But soon after his birth, the mother and her partner, Damien Stephens, 43, a technician, noticed a problem with his sight - as the shape of his left eye was changing.

They took Sol to Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, in Cornwall, and were referred to the specialist eye department before being sent to Royal Cornwall Hospital. After an MRI scan, he was transferred to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital where a biopsy revealed he had a primitive myxoid mesenchymal tumour behind his eye - a rare sarcoma that affects infants.

Sol underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and seven surgeries - including, biopsies and two operations to remove the tumour - where they removed his eye and the tumour. The surgeon was only able to remove 95 per cent of the tumour and Sol is about to start proton beam therapy - a type of radiotherapy that uses a beam of high energy protons to target the tumour.

Becky, who cares full time for Sol, from Illogan, Cornwall, said: "He has the nickname 'super Sol' he has smashed it completely. He has been smiling throughout, he has been amazing throughout it all.

"We just thought he might have had a lazy eye - we were so shocked when we found out it was cancer. He does have days where he can't be himself as the chemicals from the drugs have beaten him - he does have bad days."

Sol was born on 9 March last year, weighing 7lbs 10oz at Royal Cornwall Hospital. Becky said he was the "perfect baby" as he rarely ever cried but noticed his eyes were different.

She said: "His eyes weren't matching. We went for a weighing down at our community drop-in centre and they mentioned his eye too."

Becky and Damien took Sol to hospital - where he underwent examinations. The mother explained: "Sol was only five months old at this point and they did an MRI.

"They referred us to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital and sent the MRI up there."

In October 2023, Sol had a biopsy on his eye - which revealed a tumour had started to grow rapidly behind his eye and would push on his left eye causing his eye to change shape. She added: "By this point we still didn't know it was cancer, but because the tumour became so aggressive Sol had emergency operation to remove it.

"We stayed in Birmingham for a few nights and we went home. When we got home we got the call to say that Sol had cancer.

"It was an absolute shock, we were seeing all the specialists and having check ups to monitor his eye. They thought it might be a cyst or a strawberry birthmark but they never thought it would be cancer."

After Sol was diagnosed, Becky said she went into "utter shock". Becky and Damien noticed that the tumour had grown back after his eye started changing shape and Sol would need chemotherapy at Bristol Children's Hospital.

Becky said: "Days later he started his first round of chemo. He also had an operation to remove part of his testicle as the chemo will make him infertile.

"He had four rounds of chemotherapy and then an operation in February 2024 to remove the tumour and his eye."

Doctors were able to remove 95 per cent of the tumour but the other five per cent was left due to its location. Now, chemotherapy is not killing the cancer so Sol is about to start proton beam therapy.

Becky said: "This is the last roll of the dice, he will have therapy every day for six to seven weeks. The chemo is not managing to kill or shrink the cancer at all and a surgery to remove what is left is far too dangerous."

Becky and Damien have also started a JustGiving page to support them as they have both had to stay off work to look after Sol full-time. She continued: "We have smashed through our wedding fund which we had £10k saved for.

"The money we have generated throughout the years has also gone due to travel and other expenses. We haven't been able to work since his diagnosis because, due to his age, he needs round-the-clock care."

A family friend, Tash, is aiming to run 5km every day throughout September to raise money for Sol and has already raised over £4,000. To donate, visit - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/natasha-diment?utm_term=QbXvwPn83

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Thomson Reuters

Washington-based correspondent covering campaigns and Congress. Previously posted in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santiago, Chile, and has reported extensively throughout Latin America. Co-winner of the 2021 Reuters Journalist of the Year Award in the business coverage category for a series on corruption and fraud in the oil industry. He was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College.

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Mum thought baby had a lazy eye but it turned out to be rare cancer

A mum who thought her baby had lazy eye has revealed her shock to learn it was actually a sign of a rare cancer.

Becky Flower, 34, from Illogan, Cornwall, welcomed baby Sol, now 13 months, on March 9, 2023, but soon after his birth, Becky and her partner, Damien Stephens, 43, a technician, noticed a problem with his sight.

"His eyes weren't matching," Flower explains. "And the shape of his left eye was changing.

"We went to have him weighed at our community drop-in centre and they mentioned his eye too."

Even though they assumed their son probably just had a lazy eye - common in babies - the new parents took Sol to Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, in Cornwall, to get him examined.

After being referred to the specialist eye department, they were sent to Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Following an MRI scan there, Sol was transferred to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital for a biopsy, which revealed a tumour had started to grow rapidly behind his eye.

The tumour was pushing on his eye causing it to change shape.

"At this point we still didn't know it was cancer, but because the tumour became so aggressive Sol had an emergency operation to remove it," Flower explains.

"We stayed in Birmingham for a few nights and we went home."

Having returned home after their son's surgery, the family got the call they had been dreading - Sol had a primitive myxoid mesenchymal tumour behind his eye - a rare sarcoma that affects infants.

"We were so shocked when we found out it was cancer," Flower says of the moment they learned of their son's diagnosis.

"Doctors thought it might be a cyst or a strawberry birthmark but they never thought it would be cancer."

In the months that followed Sol, then just five months, underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and seven surgeries, which included having his entire left eye removed in February 2024.

"He also had an operation to remove part of his testicle as the chemo will make him infertile," his mum explains.

Due to its location the surgeon was only able to remove 95% of the tumour, so Sol is about to start proton beam therapy - a type of radiotherapy that uses a beam of high energy protons to target the tumour.

"This is the last roll of the dice, he will have therapy every day for six to seven weeks," Flower says of her son's treatment.

"The chemo is not managing to kill or shrink the cancer at all and a surgery to remove what is left is far too dangerous."

A friend of the family's, Tash, is now aiming to run 5km every day throughout September to raise money for Sol and has already raised over £4,000.

And the family have also started a JustGiving page to support them as they have both given up work to care for their son full-time.

"We haven't been able to work since his diagnosis because, due to his age, he needs round-the-clock care," Flower explains.

"We have already gone through our wedding fund which we had £10k saved for."

Despite his ordeal, Flower says her son has been "amazing" throughout his treatment.

"He has the nickname 'super Sol' as he has smashed it completely," she says.

"He does have bad days where he can't be himself as the chemicals from the drugs have beaten him, but he has been smiling throughout it all."

What is soft-tissue sarcoma?

Primitive myxoid mesenchymal tumour of infancy (PMMTI) is a rare mesenchymal tumour that typically appears in those under 6 months of age.

Mesenchymal tumours are a type of soft-tissue sarcoma, which is a tumour that develops from muscle or soft tissue.

According to the Royal Marsden about 60 children develop a soft-tissue sarcoma in the UK each year and it is slightly more common in boys than girls.

While signs and symptoms can depend on where the tumour develops, the most usual sign is a swelling or lump.

Other symptoms may include:

Blocked nose or discharge

Swollen or protruding eye

Tummy (abdomen) swelling, discomfort or difficulty going to the toilet (constipation)

Blood in the urine or difficulty passing urine

Though the treatment for soft-tissue sarcoma will depend on the site, stage, appearance of the tumour, it typically involves chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

Additional reporting SWNS.

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North korea readies rocket launcher system targeting south korean population centers.

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North Korea is readying a multiple rocket launcher system targeting South Korean population centers after completing a third test Friday under the watchful eye of leader Kim Jong Un, state media said.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reported the system, which the country already tested twice this year, will replace older weapons when deployed in coming months.

The news agency said the latest test confirmed the “advantage and destructive power” of the 240-millimeter multiple rocket launcher and its guided shells. 

North Korea has been ramping up weapons testing and its rhetoric.

In addition to green-lighting test launches of 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers in April, Kim authorized the firing of a number of short-range ballistic missiles.

In March, Kim drove a new tank model during drills, state media reported, as he called for greater war preparation efforts.

Meanwhile, the hermit kingdom’s relations with South Korea and the US remain hostile.

Kim last month said it was time to be prepared for war as the US, Japan and South Korea conducted joint military drills.

In December, North Korea reportedly shot a ballistic missile into the sea a day after President Biden issued a stern warning about the nation’s use of nuclear weapons against the US.

With Post wires

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