2yo with Astigmatism

My almost 2yo daughter was diagnosed with Astigmatism at the age of 3 mths due to a Capillary Hemangioma (which is slowing going down - thank god)   The Opthamologist says it's time for glasses - but i'm unsure.  The script is -3.0/+4.5 x 70..  is that strong?  

she also says she should be patched for a long time to come one hour a day..  
I feel conflicted - don't glasses make the muscles lazy.. and then patching tries to make them stronger??

Please help??  I don't want to put her through the trauma if there is another way

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

The glasses will focus the images she sees onto the retina clearly and that will stimulate her to develop better vision.  The glasses are absolutely essential.  If a blurred image is focused on the retina, that eye will often start to shut down and become a "lazy eye" or have ablyopia.  Patching the stronger eye will also stimulate the brain to increase the visual function of the weaker eye, thus reducing ablyopia hopefully.  Please calll your doctor to get you questions answered in person.  Good Luck,

MJK MD