Bitesize Orthoptics - Explaining Amblyopia To Parents
Welcome to Bitesized Orthoptics! Your go-to series for quick, focused refreshers on key orthoptic topics.
Whether you're prepping for exams, on your way to clinic, or revising a tricky concept, these short reads break down core ideas into digestible pieces. No fluff. No overwhelm. Just clear, concise overviews to boost your confidence and clinical understanding — one bite at a time.
Amblyopia is one of the most common conditions you will come across in the Orthoptic clinic. One important component when it comes to amblyopia is explaining the condition to parents and carers. This can at times feel challenging, particularly if the child was not referred with symptoms. As Orthoptists, our role is not only to diagnose and manage amblyopia but also to make sure parents understand what it is, why treatment matters, and how they can support their child through it. Here’s a structured way to approach the conversation in the clinic:
1. Start with simple language
Try to avoid using too many medical terms, this can be quite overwhelming for parents. Instead of leading with “amblyopia,” begin with plain language: “Your child has one eye that isn’t seeing as well as the other, even though the eye itself looks healthy. This is a condition called ‘amblyopia’ or more commonly ‘a lazy eye’”
2. Explain why the amblyopia developed
Parents often want to know why this has developed and how they missed it. The main point here is to reassure the parents as much as possible, whilst also explaining why and how the amblyopia developed in their child. Something along the lines of: “The brain and eyes need to work together to develop clear vision. If one eye doesn’t get a clear image during the early years, the brain starts to ignore it and connects more with the better seeing eye. This can be due to a squint (strabismus), a significant difference in glasses prescription between the eyes, or something blocking the vision like a cataract.”
3. Reassure the parents
Parents often worry about blindness or worsening damage. So explain that:
The eye is healthy – it’s the connection between the eye and brain that hasn’t developed fully. But we can treat this in the clinic.
It does not usually get worse suddenly. But it will not get better without treatment.
With treatment, improvement is often possible, especially if caught early.
4. Introduce treatment options clearly
Now that you have explained what amblyopia is and why it has occurred, the next step is to start introducing management options. Tailor to the child’s age and needs, but cover the basics:
Glasses: Correct the vision first. Explain about refractive adaptation, that we give time for the glasses to work before starting any further treatment.
Patching: That occlusion therapy is the best way to treat amblyopia, patching is the conventional choice and works by covering the stronger eye to encourage the weaker eye to work.
Atropine drops: Atropine is the other choice, where we use drops to blur the stronger eye to balance the vision.
5. Set expectations
After you have introduced the management options, you want to set expectations with the child and parents. The parents need to know that treatment requires time and consistency. Be honest but encouraging:
The hardest hurdle will be the beginning of treatment as the child will realise that they cannot see very well. The key here is to persevere. Any amount of patching is better than none
Advise them to utilise their network - school, grandparents, siblings.
Improvement is best when treatment starts early (ideally before age 7–8).
Success depends on how much the weaker eye is used. The more they patch, the quicker they will see results.
Give them tips on what they can do whilst patching: using a tablet, colouring, reading a book, playing with toys up close. The main thing to emphasize is that close work is better than far fixation, so encourage near work over watching TV for example.
6. Encourage Questions and Partnership
End by inviting parents to share concerns:
Ask if they’ve heard of amblyopia before.
Check they understand the treatment plan.
Emphasize their role in supporting patching/glasses at home.
Final Thoughts
Explaining amblyopia to parents in a clear, supportive way helps them feel reassured and motivated. By breaking down the condition into simple steps: what it is, why it happens, how we treat it, and what to expect, we can empower families to take an active role in their child’s visual development.
