Lazy Eye Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

The symptoms for amblyopia vary from person-to-person. Some people might be asymptomatic (showing no signs of the condition) while others are symptomatic (showing signs of the condition). If you experience any of these symptoms do not assume it is due to amblyopia. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.

A droopy (the inability to fully-open) eyelid that blocks the pupil
Headaches
Blurry vision
Excessive squinting or closing of the eyes
Repeatedly closing of one eye in bright sunlight
A misalignment (crossing) of one eye, generally the eye that is less used will excessively turn toward the nose

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You may also be referred to an ophthalmologist, a doctor who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of eye disorders and vision measurement. Since amblyopia tends to occur in young children, the types of tests an ophthalmologist will perform will be determined by the patient’s age and their ability to respond to the ophthalmologist. Tests may include the following:

Visual acuity assessment testing (VAT)—such as the Lea Symbols test that is used to assess distant vision.
Cycloplegic refraction test—which is performed to determine how the eyeball displays and receives images produced by the lens of the eye. To perform the test, eye drops are used to dilate (widen the pupil) for a better view of the eye. To determine the direction of light the eye receives and displays, the dilating drops briefly paralyze (impair movement or make inactive) the eye muscles that control focusing.
Retinoscopy which allows an eye specialist to determine a preverbal child’s eyeglass prescription
Prisms to determine the amount of crossing between the two eyes if present