Symptoms while treating Amblyopia

Good Day!

I have amblyopia and the doctor advised me to patch my good eye for 6 hrs. a day. While patching, I experience some headaches and dizziness. And after removing my patch, I also experience double vision. Is this normal?

I also have another question, my parents discovered my amblyopia as early as 7, but didn't religously do patching, and now that I'm 17, we are really dedicated in patching my eyes, but as I read articles about amblyopia, I am losing hope because they say that success has a very low percentage. And success is based on not fully recovering but at least some improvement. Is this true?

Thank you very much!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Get a second opinion from an Eye MD ophthalmologist. It is unlikely that you will get any sustained improvement in your vision patching 6 hrs/day at your age.

You can talk to the Eye MD about refractive surgery or contact lens is the amblyopia is caused by an unequal refractive error (aneisometrophia).


Also the belief is that if your lost your good eye completely that if the lazy eye has any potential to improve it would do so at that time regardless of what you put yourself through now.

The condition is hereditary. Be sure your brothers, sisters, cousins, children and grandchildren are all checked for it about the age of three.

JCH MD