Eyes Apart: Living with strabismus

By David Leeder on Mar 8, 2006 | Reply

Hi there, I am a 25 year old white male from Alberta Canada that suffers with amblyopia in my left eye. I have got down on my eye sight constantly (it really is something you cannot ignore). I have always hoped that I would one day be a candidate for some sort of study like this as I did not sucessfuly patch as a child like so many others. If anyone here has any further information on this could you please email me at jdleeder@gmail.com. I would be very excited to take part in anything that gives a glimmer of hope for me to improve my lazy eye.

David Leeder

By andy lecce on Jul 4, 2006 | Reply

I am a 40 year old male who has been dealing with myoplia since childhood. After going to the eye doctor in early 2005, he gave me glasses, and since I us ethe computer constantly, I am really seeing the lazy activity pick up from when I am tired to where it is really constant throughout the day, at least 4 to 5 times a day. My dad has just found he has cataracts and needs surgery. I have read that cataracts are inevitable with this condition. Could a patch help me now? What can I do, I will do whatever at
this point, it is getting really bad. Thanks

By Ryan on Sep 1, 2006 | Reply

I am a 31 year old amblyopic (left eye) and have been researching it for years. Some things that I have found that are at
least interesting are 1. a company called NeuroVision - a software company that developed a program specifically for adult
amblyopia and 2. a doctor by the name of Richard Collier in Allen, TX (Dallas area). The neurovision treatment did improve
my vision however, for me personally, it intensified my double vision and I have since ceased treatment. Dr. Collier is an
eye doctor with an exceptional, self taught background in neurology. Through prisms, lense tinting and other measures, I
have attained stereo vision, although my work with Dr. Collier is in its early stages.

By waleed on Sep 13, 2006 | Reply

Hi, my name is waleed from Saudi Arabia, I am 26 year old. I have AMBLYOPIA caused by squint in my right eye. I had failed operation to straight the eye. I do not know if glasses may do help to correct and treat the AMBLYOPIA.
I found this website marketing for a product helps in treat AMBLYOPIA invented by Chinese man.
http://www.myopia.org.uk/
does these products helps???
thanks
engr.waleed@hotmail.com

By Amber on Oct 11, 2006 | Reply

Hello, I live in Los Angeles and I am a 26 year old healthy female. I was born with strabimus & amblyopia and have had 6 surgeries to correct it. Cosmetically, it is the best it will ever be (so I have been told), but I see my left eye drifting out more and more these days and I’m concerned about it getting worse. I would love to find someone who could work with me. I patched as a child, but my case was fairly severe.

By Charlie VanNorman on Feb 11, 2007 | Reply

Hi, I’m 24 and have amblyopia in my left eye, and I want to speak to other people who have tried procedures to improve their vision in their “lazy” eye before I do any procedures myself. If you have had any experience in this, please contact me so we can talk! Ryan, who posted above, I would like to talk to you if you ever revisit this thread. Thanks in advance to anyone who may contact me. ccvn83@gmail.com

By Christian on Mar 2, 2007 | Reply

My name is Christian and i am 16 years old and suffering from amblyopia in my left eye which at my last eye exam scored a miserable 20/200 vision. I live in the UK and i heard about that neurovision but the place where they do it has stopped doing it after a takeover by optical express. is there any news on that treatment being deveolped in china and if it would be coming over to Britain aswell?

Thanks,

Chris

By Kalli on Mar 15, 2007 | Reply

Hi, I have just been to the doctors, and asked him all sorts of questions. I thought I’d mention what he said to me.
I am 26, so there’s not much I can do to regain any sight in my left eye. I could try wearing the patch, but it’s not going to help significantly. As for wondering, he said that our eyes are in sync, which means if my right eye is tired it will effect my left eye, hence why at the end of the day I can see my left eye wondering off. Glasses will help this by allowing the right eye not to work so hard. And for protecting the eye, he said be sure to wear protective goggles when doing any sort of outdoor work, or even when hammering a nail into the wall. It would be awful for any of us to loose sight in our good eye. And Always wear sunglasses with UV A and UV B protection. Hope this helps, and if anyone has anything else regarding advance treatment of this condition.. it would be most helpful.

By Anthony on Mar 18, 2007 | Reply

hello guys,

i live in kenya and dint even know there was ANY research out there on strabismus. am 34 and ave had amblyopia and strabismus since birth. i have worn glasses since when i was about six years old as my eyesight was extremely poor in both eyes. of course this worsened when ambloypia hit my left eye which was weaker as i struggled to see through my right. last year i took a chance and had laser surgery which corrected the vision in both eyes magnificently.
the doctor who did it is fairly confident of correcting the strabismus in my left eye. so am going back this year to see what happens. doesnt have to be perfect but at least to reduce the extent to which i always have to turn my head. be brave fellas. go for it but make SURE you get the right doctor first.
Aluta continua!

By Yaser on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply

Hey guys I just went to the optician and found out that I have amblyopia in my left eye. He said that there is nothing I can do about it at all but what really makes me think is why my previous optician gave me a different result by telling me that I do not have amblyopia.

I am planning to go to optical express and getting some advice as my eyes to tend to get itchy and burn frequently also I have notice that I tend to miss thing e.g. I do not see my friends and actually walk pass them.

I wanted to ask kalli if you do wear sunglasses with UV A and UV B protection is it like normal glasses or not?

Thanks Hope you all get better treatment.

By Net Ridley on Apr 30, 2007 | Reply

Hey There: Now in my mid fifties, I’ve had estropic strabismus with amblyopia since childhood. (eye turns in and down). For 50 yrs, I had no issues, as my brain aptly placed a suppression on focusing of the deviant eye to prevent double vision. However, out of the blue, this suppression has lifted and that eye is now fighting to focus. I now have a form of double vision and extreme problems reading or using the computer. I’ve seen a number of vision therapists & surgeons. I’m NOT currently a candidate for surgery as the vertical issue is too severe. I’m told that vision therapy will probably work, but will take years and then surgery will most likely be necessary as the double vision will have worstened considerably. I’m further advised that there are NO guarantees with the increased double vision then permanent. Any suggestions from anyone? Thanks. nettie.ridley@xplornet.com

By david on May 8, 2007 | Reply

I’m 33, currently living in Los Angeles,California. I have scheduled an appointment w/ an opthalmologist concerning my amblyopic left eye which has been present since birth but has gotten considerable worse within the past 2 years. I am going to the Jule Stein Eye Institute at UCLA which specializes in eye disorders. Hopefully I can get some sort of treatment. What I’m most concerned about is any neurological degradation. At times I feel as though my brain is shutting down and I really have to concentrate in order to have my left eye in-line with my right (the good eye).

I’d like to know if anyone else is experiencing the same thing regarding concentration and vision.

By jules on May 13, 2007 | Reply

Hi,

I have a lazy right eye, and I wear glasses for long sightedness.. I am now 33years old - and what what I understand the situation as an adult is irreversible. Generally I don’t notice that my right eye can barely see anything (I can only make out the largest letters on the Opticians board when the left eye is covered - and thats not very clear) as my left eye compensates really well. However, as I am getting older I feel that the eye strain on my good eye as it compensates for the lazy eye will cause it to deteriorate and I will hardly to be able to see at all when I am old. If there is anything that can be done, I would be interested.

By david on May 24, 2007 | Reply

I’m back from my appt with the Jules Stein Eye Institute. Just as I feared, the only treatment option I have is surgery which is not really an options for me.

I was offered to participate with their ongoing research on strabismus. If I decide to participate, they will be measuring my eye movements using magnets and contacts with an embedded metal coil. They will also be performing an MRI on my eye muscles. I’ll let you know if I do this.

By Emre on May 28, 2007 | Reply

Dear `lazy eye` owners…
I felt very excited while reading the lines above because each post has given me the feeling of `yes, this is what i feel` kind of impression. I have the same lazy situation on my left and at age of 26 thinking more about: what will happen than…I guess we all feel the same as we get older, what happens if an unexpected sudden threat to my good eye. All our searches shows us there are some outcomes of recent sutidies and we all expect an approved treatment for our lazy friend thinking that `I may give my all to have both eyes functioning well`.
I was give up searching a treatment after a response of the doctor saying `there is nothing to do for!!!`. I always hate this kind of approach, there should be something…Anyway, recent researches shows that soon we will all have a treatment at least to see more…
Regards…

By Ramesh on May 29, 2007 | Reply

I agree with Emre. There should be some kind of treatment for this problem in adults. I’m 28 years old and having the “lazy eye” ever since the age of 2. My useless parents failed to treat the squint during my childhood (due to lack of awareness and financial problems combined), for which I’m suffering a lot since then. I’ve even thought about finishing off my life, but don’t have the guts to do so

My right eye can barely see objects, and can’t even read text when placed very near. It’s 90% inop. In the past 1 year, I’m experiencing burning and itching feeling in my right eye (lazy eye), and there seems to be no cure for amblyopia in adults. Doctors ask me to “take things positively that you have atleast one working eye, rather than living a completely blind person on earth”.

By david on Jun 4, 2007 | Reply

i emailed the USC doctor (http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/11935.html)in charge of the lazy eye research and received this response:

Dear David: Thanks for your interest in our research.
We are currently testing the training program in some home
sitings. Will keep your info on file and send you
a copy of the program once we conclude our tests
successfully. Sincerely, Zhong-Lin Lu

By Ashlee on Jun 9, 2007 | Reply

Hi, I am 17 and I have had amblyopia since i was around 3 i think. I am just wondering if there is a chance of getting my vision back by using all these methods said on this page, even though my doctor told me there was no way my eye could ever recover. I’ve talked to him about surgery to correct my slightly crooked left eye, and he told me not to bother with trying, and it wouldn’t help. He said it would be a waste. Is this true?

By joel on Jun 11, 2007 | Reply

hi im 19 and i have lazy left eye. lately i have started to notice that i get a sort of double vision whenever i try to focus on small points in my line of vision (like stars or l.e.d. lights) and i think my left eye is starting to drift . i was wondering if any of you older guys have noticed the relationship between your two eyes has got worse with age.

surely in this day and age a cure is posible. do any of you guys know of any research involving neural pathway strengthening with stem cells?

By Angel on Jun 12, 2007 | Reply

I have Amblyopia in my right eye since birth, I am 38 years. This condition has cause me to loose many job opportunities that required near perfect vision. This has been something that has really hurt my dreams of a career that I can enjoy. Is there anyone out there that has ever been able to improve their vision.

By Jim on Jun 21, 2007 | Reply

Hello,

My name is Jim and I have Amblyopia in my left eye. Last time it was checked it was around 20/240. My right eye has always adjusted well. So much so that I played baseball through high school and was always a strong hitter (something I later learned was something of a miracle considering my non-stereo vision). Anyway…now I am 37 and realize that there are (still) basically no treatments. I am just worried that my good eye will eventually get worse or become damaged in some way. My bad eye doesn’t drift or seem to be getting any worse (has been 20/240 since I was about 8).

What has been your experiences?

Thanks,

Jim

By Jeremy on Jun 22, 2007 | Reply

Hi,

I’m glad to have found this site. I’ve had amblyopia in my left eye since I was two. My vision is about 20/200 in the bad eye. I’m 36 and have spent most of my life without being really conscious at all about my poor vision. It’s only recently that I’ve been able to tie my difficulties reading and concentrating to my vision. I quit a very good, visually oriented career (software programming) because it got demanding to the point that I couldn’t concentrate well enough to program confidently. It’s very depressing. I’m glad there are forums for us to share our stories. It’s nice to know we’re not alone in our experience.

Best,

Jeremy

By Billy on Jun 23, 2007 | Reply

I’m glad there are sights like this, so we can all share what we have to deal with. I’ve had a lazy right eye since I was about 2 y/o. I’m able to drive and everything, but barely. It’s strange, it’s like everything looks the same size in my right as is in my left, but it’s just like my brain can’t understand what it’s seeing. I don’t know if that makes sense to anybody else, but I’m totally with the person from Allen, TX I live about 1 hour from Dallas myself, and it seems like eye doctors here either don’t know or just don’t care to deal with us. Anybody else have that problem?

-Billy

By Temika on Jul 7, 2007 | Reply

I have a lazy that my mom did not take care as a child i have fiur girls and i thank god they do not have to deal with this can somebody help us I know God is a healer

By Beca on Jul 23, 2007 | Reply

Hello all,

My 34 yr old Husband has suffered from ambylopia in his left eye since he was a child. I’m not finding much for help other than the treatment in another country. He was to wear a patch when he was a child but no one enforced it. So that never helped. We are now discussing ourselves if he should just try the patch on his own. For say a couple hours a day. His vision is 20/50 in ambylopic eye and 20/17 in his good eye. This probably sounds like nothing compared to other cases I am reading about. But due to his line of work it is crucial to have great vision. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated..

Becky

By Anthony on Jul 30, 2007 | Reply

david,

I like to know how you’re doing with the ongoing treatment, with UCLA and if USC ever get back to you.

I’m 34 and have lazy eye (left) all my life. Like you, I feel like half of my brain is shutting down.

Please keep posting here, and let me know. I’d drive down to USC to ask around, if I haven’t read your reply from Zhong-Lin Lu.

By david on Jul 31, 2007 | Reply

#30, Anthony,

UCLA never got back to me regarding the strabismus/amblyopia research.

and I have not heard anything other than that single response from USC. I encourage you to email the USC Dr. I found his email by doing a search. I’m sure he can be found in the USC directory.

other than that, i havnt pursued any other treatment options. surgery, for me, is not an option.

By Deepak on Aug 15, 2007 | Reply

I have 19 years old and have had a lazy eye(left) all my life . I had undergone patching in my early years but not with so much conviction.
I have heard a lot about vision therapy and other therapies which claim to improve the vision in the lazy eye with age as no bar. Can you please guide me if there have been any recent advances regarding lazy eye treatment and wether vision therapies do work?. It woukld be great to hear on this subject.

By david on Sep 7, 2007 | Reply

hi. im following up with my past posts.

i never did participate w/ the strabismus research at UCLA since they never called me.

but good news. i’ve been taking an antidepressant, Wellbutrin SR 150mg (generic), and it’s been helping alot with the floating eye. i feel as though both eyes are working together again. i’ve been on the drugs for 2 weeks now for mild depression.

By david on Sep 7, 2007 | Reply

heres a link that mentions that levodopa (precursor to dopamine) seems to improve the amplyopic eye.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10937461&dopt=AbstractPlus

Paediatr Drugs. 2000 Mar-Apr;2(2):91-100.Links
The role of drug treatment in children with strabismus and amblyopia.
Chatzistefanou KI, Mills MD.

“The neurotransmitter precursor levodopa and the related compound citicoline have been demonstrated to improve vision in amblyopic eyes. The therapeutic role of these centrally acting agents in the clinical management of amblyopia remains unproven.”

By david on Sep 7, 2007 | Reply

I want to clarify that posts #34 & #35 are related to eachother.

Since taking the Wellbutrin, I’ve noticed the improvement in my driting eye. I did a google search to see if there was a relationship between antidepressants and amblyopia and found that abstract.

Wellbutrin is a NDRI (norepenepherine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor) meaning that D & N reuptake is blocked so that more D & N is available to bind to receptors in the brain. Levodopa (l-dopa) is the precursor to dopamine. It is metabolized to dopamine in the brain.

It’s difficult to say what’s responsible for what I’m experiencing. It could either be a direct result of the increased dopamine or a side-effect of not being “depressed”. I do notice that it’s more difficult to keep the amblyopic eye focused when I’m tired, but since I’m more alert while on the antidepressant, it takes little effort to keep the eyes aligned.

By david on Sep 9, 2007 | Reply

just wanted to let everyone know that i’m no longer able to see well. it only lasted a day. i’ll be asking my doctor to raise my dosage of Wellbutrin to 300mg and see how things go from there.

i’m feeling pretty bummed out about it. it’s as if i won the lottery and it was all taken away from me the next day.

By Sreekanta on Sep 25, 2007 | Reply

hi,
I have a lazy Left eye, and I wear glasses .. I am now 33years old , from India - I consulted eye doctors, but they are telling lazy eyes are not curable at older age.
Is any one knows about the treatment for this please reply to my mail id Sreekanta.swamy@gmail.com

Regards
Sreekanta

By liz on Sep 27, 2007 | Reply

hello,

I had crossed-eyes since a young child. at the age of 27 had surgery to correct. It was!!! Now at the age of 46, I notice that the eye is turning in. the MD said, he cannot take the risk to correct it again UNLESS it turns out more. Any thoughts son this??
thanks

By Sara on Oct 14, 2007 | Reply

I have had a lazy eye since birth, did eye patching as a child, but didn’t take to it very well. Now in my thirties and my left eye turns out all the time. Was told I could have eye surgery to line up the eye, but have been reading about Vision Therapy to exercise the brain to use both eyes together. Has anyone tried it?

By John on Dec 16, 2007 | Reply

I want to mention that I do believe that laser surgery is going to correct any condition of both amblyopia, and strabismus the day and age we live in now with regenerative medicine, as in adult stem cell research do to all of what can be detected with genetic screening before surgery! I have to say that the adult stem cell research therapy treatments are will mean that the brain will recognize the eyes fully restored to binocular function, and that they can also cause the eyes to not need either contacts, or glasses. I will look into having this stuff done on an inpatient basis at a university medical school hospital! I find doing what is mentioned is important to realign the brain pattern so that the brain will recognize the binocular function of the eyes! This is important so that then I can have perfect vision!

By John on Dec 16, 2007 | Reply

I want to mention that I do believe that laser surgery is going to correct any condition of both amblyopia, and strabismus the day and age we live in now with regenerative medicine, as in adult stem cell research do to all of what can be detected with genetic screening before surgery! I have to say that the adult stem cell research therapy treatments are will mean that the brain will recognize the eyes fully restored to binocular function, and that they can also cause the eyes to not need either contacts, or glasses. I will look into having this stuff done on an inpatient basis at a university medical school hospital! I find doing what is mentioned is important to realign the brain pattern so that the brain will recognize the binocular function of the eyes! This is important so that then I can have perfect vision! I have had to call these places where regenerative medicine is being practiced. My eye doctor, and his assistant have said that because of my age the vision in my right eye cannot be corrected, they do not see any reason for my wanting to go to a university hospital to have the surgery done. Now I told them that this is necessary to avoid the adverse effects of having problems with my eyes do to conventional surgery methods.

By Stacey on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

Hi everyone. I am 32 and I too have had amblyopia (in my left eye) since I was a baby; I too did the eye patching, and it was completely unsuccessful. Its weird, I didnt realize so many people had amblyopia! And it seems like the left eye is most commonly effected.

At any rate, when I cover my right eye, not only can my left eye not really see much, but it starts to actually Black Out (like, half of what I see turns black). Does anyone else experience this??

I am also experiencing double vision, and when I am very tired, I can feel my left eye drifting. Its terrible. I have been to many doctors, who all tell me there is nothing I can do about it. I have 20/200 vision in the amblyotic eye.

Anyhow, its just nice to vent about this to people who understand. Even my family, who have known about this since I was a baby, think I’m being overdramatic. You try being legally blind in one eye!!

Anyhow, let me know if any of you have experienced vision blackouts like I stated above.

By janis on Jan 20, 2008 | Reply

Hi, I had strabismus and lazy eye since i was a child. I’ve had three eye surgeries, and as a 28 year old women, i am currently using prism glasses. My eye doctor told me they will help so that the two eyes come closer in order to focxus in an object. I also patch my good eye and practice using my “weak” eye. I try to do this for about 5 hours. I am trying to dfind a doctor who can perform vision therapy because I have heard that they use some special equipment in order to help the eyes get treated.

By Alison Richards on Jan 21, 2008 | Reply

Hey everyone! I want to start off my saying thanks to everyone writing on here.
I am 21, and I was born with amblyopia and strabismus. I have had 5 eye surgeries. My left is dominant, my right not so much haha. Recently I have been getting headaches and feel like my left eye (good eye) has been steadily getting worse. I am going to the eye doctor tomorrow for an exam to see what is going on, and I am going to look into vision therapy. A lot of people with my condition feel very lost and discouraged and I don’t blame them! I cannot have any more surgeries do to the fact that my muscles could collapse. BUT I am not hopeless. I am gonna get as much info as I can and will let you all know how my journey goes.
Please e-mail me if you have tried vision therapy and tell me how it went
or even if you feel lost and want to chat! :o)
broccoley@msn.com

never lose hope!

By Virginia on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply

Hey there!

So I was born with non-binocular amblyopia and strabismus in the left eye in 1987. Unfortunately my family was unfamiliar with the condition and I didn’t get to have my eyes checked by a doctor until I was 6. Then the BAD news… I was seeing 20/400 in my left eye, it was turned and in my right eye my vision is only 20/40. I patched continuously for a year and by the end I was seeing 20/60 in my formerly legally blind eye. (Left) I then underwent to strabismus correcting surgery. I was told that my left eye was originally turned in 12% and by the end of surgery it was turned in a mere 2%. Therefore, for anybody questioning out there, I definitely recommend the procedures and PLEASE have your children checked early… it’s KEY in best possible treatment.

Recently I have noticed some pains coming from either of my eyes… behind them. I feel that my left eye has begun wandering much more as well. I am VERY disheartened and have become very insecure with myself. I worry everyday that my biggest dream of having a loving husband and a family to provide for will never be met. I have always been told I was beautiful and played sports throughout high school (varsity soccer) but I worry that my standards are high and that I myself don’t even live up to my expectations. I guess I’m just looking for a little reassurance that there are people who can look past this condition out there. Maybe someone will be able to just let me know that they made it even though they too have this condition. It would really strengthen my spirit through this tough time.

Thanks,
Virginia 21 yrs old.

By Elysia on Jan 27, 2008 | Reply

Hi Becky.

I am in the same boat as your husband. 20/50 in my bad eye…20/30 in the good eye. I am my teaching internship and will receive my degree in May. Recently my lazy eye has gotten horrible. I’m finding it difficult to focus at all after a few hours teaching. My eyes are so tired and my eye muscles actually hurt at the end of the day. I call on my students and they turn around as if I am not looking directly at them, and they say, are you talking to me??? It is so frustrating. I’ve been thinking about buying a patch and wearing it when I am at home at night and on the weekends. Let me know if your husband has been doing this and if he has noticed any change. I did try the patch when I was younger, but no one enforced it. Thus, here I am. I am 29 years old. Thanks a lot.

Elysia

By naman on Feb 9, 2008 | Reply

hi i live in india iam suffering fromcoats disease since birth in my left eye so due to this dreadfuldisease i have squint problem in that eye now iam 20 years old please please anyone knowing about the squint treatment please send an email
with regards
naman

By Lynn on Feb 17, 2008 | Reply

Hello,
I want to reply to Stacey’s post: Yes, I too have experienced this “blacking out” of my weak eye when I cover my dominate eye in the effort to strengthen/use the amblyopic eye. It is as if some one is slowly turning down a dimmer switch on a light. While it doesn’t fade to black, it gets spotty and shadowy. So disconcerting.

Did anyone read a very interesting article in the New Yorker last year, by the famed neurologist Oliver Sacks? He describes at length the experience of not having stereo vision. I knew I I only used one eye, suppressing the vision of the weak eye, and that my depth perception is not great, but I didn’t know that I saw everything as rather flat, Fascinating, but ultimately a downer.

I fear my vision simply getting worse and the imbalance more trying. I have trouble being in visually “busy” spaces. Does anyone else relate to this?

By Pat Morgan on Feb 18, 2008 | Reply

Why was surgery not an option for you?

By ted on Feb 24, 2008 | Reply

hi
my name is ted I am 41 with amblyopia in my left eye from birth .I want to thank you all for your postings I would love to be part of any studys in helping to find a cure for this ugly condition of mine
thanks again ted

By Mary on Mar 3, 2008 | Reply

I to have amblyopia and have all my life. I am 44 years old now and it is at its worst at this point. I can no longer see my dinner plate without my bad eye crossing in. and to carry on a conversation with someone who is within a few feet of my space is hard. focusing is tough without the eye turning in. I am going to talk again with my doctor but as far as I know surgery for this they will not touch in the u.s. They said to check into canada. I was wearing one contact in my good eye so my bad eye could see up close. The problem was it took away my ability to see well long distances. Anyway, I am going to try it again, to see if I can tolerate it. It is getting to the point where I need to find other options. However, I have not exhausted all I have with contacts and glasses. So stay strong and we will figure this out.. By the way, from what I have read, it is more common in the left eye. But mine and my daughters are in the right. Let me know if that means anything.
Mary

By Christian on Mar 15, 2008 | Reply

Hello my name is Christian and I am 29 years old. I remember being about 6 years old and looking up to the sky, and I could not see an airplane up in the sky with my left eye. So as it turned out I had amblyopia. I did wear a patch on my right eye, but I did not wear it all the time like I should have. Now as an adult I really want to switch careers and I’ve been told that the vision in my left eye is 20/200. I need at least 20/100 to enter my dream career. I have been to Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, and they have told me that “there is no cure” for my left eye. I wear contact lenses on my right eye which is not bad, and a contact lense on my left (highest power on contact lenses). I’ve seen some post and links to “Vision Therapy”, has this been a success to some? Anybody here as an adult have any information regarding Vision Therapy? Life experiences? I will go this week to my eye doctor and ask about Vision Therapy.

I pray to God that I can at least “improve” some of the vision in my left eye.

Good luck to all.

By Jazzy on Mar 28, 2008 | Reply

I have amblyopia in my right eye… and it is the pits. I had no idea till I was in my late teens. My eyes don’t turn in, nothing. My left eye is 20/20 and my right, i don’t know i will call tomorrow to find out, but it isn’t great… So i wear glasses to compensate , but driving at night these days is becoming harder. I live in the NYC area and I am looking for any type of specialist, dr, etc.
I’m 29, I am afraid that eye will get worse. I want to do anything i can to improve. Going to start patching myself, any advice???

Great to see that we “lazy eyes” have a place to talk.

Ciao-Jazzy

By Paula Nguyen on Apr 1, 2008 | Reply

I am 42 Vietnamese female, and did not know the term Lazy eye until 8yrs ago, one Ophthometrist told me about it. She said there is nothing to help me with so, I just ignore this. Until now I barely could see big word with my right “lazy eye”. My left one is so perfect one since I was young up today. I wonder as if there is any technique to treat this amplyopia for my right eye. I wear eye glass 20yrs since, with one glass for near sighted and other is just bare one.
I will be happy to be in any study to treat this amplyopia. Hope it comes out soon.
Thanks

By rebecca on Apr 6, 2008 | Reply

I am 46 and have duan syndrome in both eyes, at age 18 had a surgery which did nothing just left me with scar on the corner. my vision has gone realy poor .I havent had a check up for about4-5 years, I was told there was not much i could do to improve my look and vision. does anyone know any place in the world that treats this conditon with gene therapy or stem cell please let me know. thanks.

By dinesh on Apr 15, 2008 | Reply

Iam 25and have squint and amblyopia in my left eye since birth.Ihave been operated at the age of 1 year for the squint.but no imrovement in vision.my right eye vision is 6/6 and left eye vision is 6/18.The problem is that i cant see the things clearly.Doctors told me that nothing could be done to improve the vision.NOw these days swelling,itching and pain happens in both the eyes.will the above stated therapy will work? if anything would be done for the left eye plz inform me i will be very thankful to u.

dinesh

By Javier Terrazas on Apr 26, 2008 | Reply

i have a lazy right eye, and I wear glasses .. I am now 23years old , from
Mexico, right now i live in vancouver canada..
Is any one knows about the treatment or surgety.. for this please reply to my
mail
jano_tb@….
my right eye only moved when im sad, drunk, estress,tired, only. .
my questions is.. can i take i surgery or only treatment. and what is the
tratment?
is good patching if i have 23 years old?

javier

By Dev on May 3, 2008 | Reply

Hi,

This is a reply to Stacy and Lynn, and anyone else who is wondering about vision therapy.

I have not yet started therapy, but I have been doing a lot of online reasearch and visited one Vision Therapist, and plan on going to one or more before deciding what to do.

I also have the “blackout” area in my lazy right eye, and have rather severe amblyopia in that eye (20/400 no glasses, 20/200 with glasses). My eye crosses slightly, though not bad unless I have strained all day at the computer or watched a lot of TV. The therapist said my eye tracking was very good considering how bad my lazy eye was.

Now for some good news. This therapist treated a 52 year old woman with amblyopia, though not as bad as mine, and after a year of therapy she has complete stereo vision and is 20/20 in the the old lazy eye! Therapy consists of 1 hour office visits every week with home therapy via computer software. Through some research I discovered that she is authorized to use a home based software therapy (under doctor’s direction) called HTS - here is a link to doctors using this software:

http://www.homevisiontherapy.com/doctors_disclaimer_pg1.htm

Go back to their home page for more info on the program.

The other therapists I plan on visiting also use this software (or at least are listed at the above site as having used it). So there is hope, though this treatment can be rather expensive since you are visiting the therapist once a week. I am checking to see if my work insurance will cover it, though I think the chances are small. Basically, it will cost me around $500 per month plus the cost of the software.

I also noticed the comments from people who tried the Neurovision therapy, and that some experienced severe double vision as the lazy eye improved. The therapist I talked to said that “convergence” or tracking of the eyes was part of the overall therapy, so it sounds like Neurovision only concentrated on activating the lazy eye - not a very complete therapy program.

I am hopeful that I can start therapy in a month or two, provided I can afford it. I’ll post again with results if I go. Oh, and I am 57 years old, so if it works for me it will probabaly work on most people.

Good luck to all of us,
Dev

By Irina on May 13, 2008 | Reply

My son is 24 and he has a lazy eye condition, can’t see . I try to find a doctor here in Canada, preferably in ontario, we live in ottawa, so he can get a treatment.I anyone heard anything pls reply!
Irina

By Paulina on May 21, 2008 | Reply

I am so glad to have found this article on the web. It makes me ecstatic to think that this so called “irreversible” problem now has hope for adults. Im researching places to get this done. Neuro-vision seems to have a treatment that appears similar to what these scientists are talking about. I can’t wait to see out of my left eye with more clarity!

By Sumeet on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply

Dev, Where do you live and which Vision therapist did you goto ? Please tell us how you found him/her. Even I have left lazy eye and I would like to do some vision therapy before opting for surgery. Also did the insurance thing work out ? Thanks - Sumeet

By ice on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

hello,

I’m 21 from the Philippines.

I just had eye muscle surgery last Wednesday for my left eye. It’s still swollen and bloody. The improvement will be seen after the swelling is gone.

Anyone been under the same procedure? I wanna know if it turned out well for you.

By ryan on Jun 15, 2008 | Reply

Hello everyone. I, like many of you am looking for an effective treatment for strabismus (lazy eye.) i recently found this article that i found interesting. I just wondered if anybody else had seen this and if they knew where this treatment might be offered??
Keep the faith!

Apr 19 (ANI): The popular antidepressant drug, Prozac, might soon have an unexpected new medical use - as a treatment for lazy eye syndrome, according to a new study in rats with impaired vision.

The study shows that daily doses of drug fluoxetine (Prozac) help rats’ brains’ visual centres to rewire themselves and correct the defect.

If the drug has a similar effect in humans, it could potentially help the roughly 1-5 percent of people thought to have amblyopia, or ‘lazy eye’.

It is believed that fluoxetine and other selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) relieve depression by boosting the amount of the mood-related messenger molecule serotonin that is circulating among the brain’s cells, reports Nature.

But the new research, led by José Fernando Maya Vetencourt of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, suggests that it can have other effects too.

The research team tested the theory that SSRIs increase the plasticity of the brain’s nerve cells - their capacity to make and break connections with each another. It is this feature that underlies the mental wiring of processes such as accurate vision.

According to Ben Webb, a visual neuroscientist at the University of Nottingham, UK, the main cause of amblyopia is thought to be the problems with brain wiring.

If the eyes are not aligned properly, the developing brain can ‘ditch’ one as it struggles to make sense of the sensory information it is receiving. Over time, the neglected eye fails to forge a proper neural connection with the brain, and therefore delivers poor vision for life.

It is treatable if caught early, Webb says, “ideally as early as you can test a child - say, 18 months”.

Children with lazy eye typically spend a few hours a day wearing an eyepatch over the normal eye to encourage the brain to engage with the affected eye, although this treatment is rarely continued beyond about the age of 9, when the visual cortex is generally thought to be fully developed.

The fluoxetine given to the rats in the study seems to have encouraged the visual cortex to return to a juvenile state, allowing the brains to make these corrections even in adulthood.

Some neuroscientists had suspected that fluoxetine might increase brain plasticity because some users show enhanced neuron development in certain brain areas.

Maya Vetencourt and his colleagues tested the idea on rats that had had one eye sewn shut during their early life. They then swapped the animals’ eyes, and gave some of the rats a daily dose of fluoxetine for four weeks.

The adult animals’ vision recovered fully, says Maya Vetencourt.

The rats not only showed full activity in their visual neurons, they also behaved as if they were fully-sighted.

The study is published in Science 1. (ANI)

Source-ANI

By katy on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply

Hi, My heart goes out to all you young people who have this dreaded dysfunction and I hate to say it but it does not get any better. I found out I had amblyopia in my left eye when I was 5, and wore the patch for years it was about 20/500 back then. I am now 42 and am considered legally blind in my left eye and my vision is going quick in my right eye due to injuries and getting old. I have recieved numerous prescriptions for glasses and they just can not seem to get it right I have been waiting my whole life for a doctor to give me the magic cure but feel it is hopeless. My latest developements are eye twitching and severe migrains and those pesky tear cyst. I’ve been teased about not getting surgery on my right eye and my response to that is “ARE YOU CRAZY!!!!” I can’t risk loosing the eye sight in that eye too! I know this all sounds negative but let’s get real Amblyopia is not a life threatening disease and we have all heard it at sometime or another “You still have one good eye.” My suggestions are: 1.)Protect that good eye at any cost. 2.) Marry some one with good eyesight (looks really don’t matter Ha Ha!) 3. If at all possible marry that special someone who has selective hearing so they can tune your complaining out. Good Luck

By Anna on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply

http://www.ophsource.org/periodicals/ophtha/medline/record/MDLN.7557504

found another article link

doing some research becuase i want my headaches to go away and i am convinced its my “lazy” eye. had the strabismus surgery 20 yrs back and just want a simple, non invasive solution to the “brain pain” - don’t we all.

i think taking levodopa is a scary thought.
i was thinking more along the lines of an ADD drug or something. i liked the wellbutrun idea…
any suggestions?

By Colleen on Jul 1, 2008 | Reply

Hi,

I totally empathize and also have the same blackout of the vision in the amblyopic eye. Ugh… being half blind isnt much fun. When something happens to the other eye it wakes you up; as did to me when I suddenly one day horribly black floaters obstructed 90% of the vision in my good eye.

Fortunately for me they seemed to be reabsorbed after taking some cortisone based drops for a sinus infection - which had been the reason for the floaters in the first place. Infections can cause this to happen.

Anyway, I hope to get in touch with Dr. Jacob Liberman, O.D., Ph.D.from Aspec Co., that I heard speaking in Montreal many years ago. He seemed to have a treatment using light pulses in the “good eye” that would have the result of enlightening the other eye to see. Who knows?

I should have checked him out before this but I was apathetic and believed what the doctors said about my age being a factor.

Does anyone know anything about this Jacob Liberman besides the fact that he wrote books. Does he still practice? Did he pass on this light therapy to others?

Colleen

By Dev on Jul 6, 2008 | Reply

Hi Sumeet,

I live in Southern California, and I went to this site to locate therapists:

http://www.covd.org/

On the home page there is a place to insert your zip code and then select a range in miles around that zip code that you want to search for therapists. Sorry it took so long to reply, guess I haven’t been checking much.

I haven’t yet followed up with any other therapists, but my insurance wouldn’t cover so it kinda discouraged me. Therapist I went to was Kauser Sharieff, O.D., FCOVD, in Orange, CA. I talked on the phone with another one (she actually had amblyopia and corrected it through therapy), and had email from a third. I think I want to visit at least three before I make a decision, but will probably have to wait until I can get on my wife’s work insurance in January. Hope this helps.

Dev

By katy on Jul 7, 2008 | Reply

Hey Jazzy, When I was young a doctor did a test on my amblyopia eye and it did help me a little to see the big E on the eye chart. He blackened the whole lens I was looking through except for a tiny pin hole kind of like sticking a needle through a black piece of paper and looking through it. As for the patching of the eye as it was explained to me was that you need to where a patch at least five months for every year you have had ambliopia and even then it is highly unlikly it will work because your cornea is already developed by the age of 9. If I was to talk to any specialist I would talk to a neurologist. The vision loss of amblyopia is neurological. Your brain does not register what your eye sees. As you get older your eye weakens thats probably why you were not diagnosed until later. Oh yeh I almost for got theres also eye exercises for the lazy eye and even though I am now legally blind in my left eye it does not wonder thanks to the exercises.

By ryan on Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

hello, i was wondering if anyone knew of anywhere thats looking for volunteers for clinic trials involving fluoxetine(prozac) in relation to treating amblyopia?

By Francesca on Jul 19, 2008 | Reply

I just had my third strabismus suregery. prior to the process I had my first surgery at mass general in 1965. the result was ok but over the years i learned to use one eye and ignore one eye. In June I had a second surgery due to vision loss. this was a disaster and over correction. cosmetically this was awful.. My second surgery was slightly better. But cosmetically I was much better prior to these last two surgeries. I just had my fourth follow up.. and im so devastated at this point. Has anyone here had numerous surgeries to correct the corrections? help….

By dave on Jul 25, 2008 | Reply

Interesting…. treatment with prozac. this is something for me to reconsider since i have been on the drug in the past, but that was when my vision was better.

from personal experience w/ depression & strabismus, there is some merit to looking at antidepressants as treatment. ive written in the past on this blog regarding my experience with better vision while on wellbutrin. however, this was a short lived experience, so i wouldnt expect any other AD to have any permanent effect.

perhaps i’ll try prozac… again. but i just hate the idea of being dependent on medication.

By chris wenchel on Aug 17, 2008 | Reply

I am 45 years old. I also have had this condition since birth. Patching came when I was 7 and too late. I also go black when trying to look out of my left eye, and also get the double vision as the day gets longer. i also have a problem driving at night.

By ryan on Aug 18, 2008 | Reply

i think our best hope of a “cure” for amblyopia is from José Fernando Maya Vetencourt of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy. he has be testing prozac on rats and has made a big breakthrough in terms of helping the brains use both eyes at once. i will try to make contact with mr vetencourt and ask him if there have been any recent advances or promising signs for the future.(i think he has a facebook page.)

By Justin on Aug 26, 2008 | Reply

Hey, I’m 19 and have ptosis + amblyopia in my right eye. I have poor vision and my eyelid droops a bit and is noticeable only to me. Sometimes others when they look hard enough or concentrate on my face. I now have suddenly caught onto double vision which bothers me constantly. These eye problems have caused nothing but pain on myself, making me feel uncomfortable and VERY depressed almost all the time. I cant stand this anymore and someday i feel like im just going to take my life for this because I do NOT want to live the rest of my life the way I look. Sorry to say this but its true and no 1 is going to tell me different or change how I think. I would LOVE for there to be a CURE for my problems. I would o anything and PAY AS MUCH AS NEEDED for an operatation of ANY sort. IF any Doctor sees this and is interested PLZ get back to me and email me. I am Located in upstate NY and like I said will do ANYTHING for you to make my eyes normal

By dave on Aug 27, 2008 | Reply

ive been on prozac for about 3 weeks now. started the 1st week off at 20mg but the side effects were too great. now im on 10mg where the side effects are tolerable. it’s definitely made a difference in my vision. it’s easier to focus w/ both eyes but still not perfect. though my left eye will turn out when i get tired usually close to bed time. it’s not quite a cure as i expect the benefits to wane if i discontinue use.

btw. i was prescribed prozac for depression, not lazy eye.

By Joe on Sep 2, 2008 | Reply

Hello everyone, I am 23 years old and was told that I have amblyopia when I was 10. As I get older I am becoming more and more desperate to have this corrected, I was feeling that it may never happen, but this site has given me new hope.

I can remember that as a kid i thought that i had x-ray vision, because when i was in the barn and would look and the walls up close, i could see through the wall. I did not realize that being close to the wood was blocking vision in my good eye and and causing my lazy eye that was aligned in between planks to kick into action and show me what was outside. (I hoped that made sense)

We tried patching for a short time around 12, but the Dr. basically told me it was to late. I have 20/200 vision in my right eye. Due to deteriorating vision in my good eye, i have started wearing glasses and occasionally a contact. I don’t like to wear a contact, because i stare at a computer all day, and when my contact becomes blurry it causes my right eye to work and causes extreme double vision.

I also have a terrible time seeing in low lighting conditions as well as driving at night. I hardly ever see animals on the side of the road, or see people when they wave to me as my good eye is focused on the road. I have horrible depth perception when i play golf.

I am looking into the computerized therapy, i will keep everyone updated on what i find out. Everyone keep the possible cures coming, my greatest wish is to cure this thing before my good eye gets injured or decreases vision any further.

Thanks,

-Joe
Rolla, MO

By ryan on Sep 3, 2008 | Reply

Hello, i recently sent an email to José Fernando Maya Vetencourt. he is working on possible “cure” for amblyopia (lazy eye) here is his reply.

Thank you very much for writing, I appreciate your kindness and interest
in our research.

Unfortunately, there is not available treatment for human amblyopia at
the moment. Whether the effects induced by Fluoxetine in the rodent
visual cortex may also take place in the human visual system is
currently unknown. We are about to start working with adult amblyopic
patients in Italy to evaluate such possibility. It will take us, anyway,
a few more years before we can draw any conclussion.

so it looks like we’ll have to wait a while. but there may be light at the end of the tunnel!

By Celeste on Sep 20, 2008 | Reply

There is a new nonsurgical procedure to correct amblyopia in adults. The procedure was created by Dr Zhong-Lin Lu at the University of Southern California. Is anyone familiar with this treatment?

By dOMINIC on Sep 21, 2008 | Reply

when can i go for a procedure to correct strabimus.
I live in KENYA 28 years and suffer from Strabismus.
please help.

By ryan on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply

doe’s anyone know of anywhere theat use’s DR.Lu’s treatment in the u.k or europe?

By ryan on Sep 25, 2008 | Reply

Has anyone used neuro-vision? does it restore binocular vision to people who have amblyopia.

By LESLIE on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

Hi all,
I’m so relieved to find so many others like me. I too, have a lazy eye, my left. I’m blind in that eye due to toxoplasmosis, a eye disease I got at birth. We didn’t detect it until I was a teenager, so I never received treatment. I’m now 34 with only one good eye, for which I am so grateful. I just realized at my last eye exam that I could go blind one day. Which scared the h… out of me. I’ve never really worried about any of this until recently b/c my lazy eye is now more pronounced. I know that I will never see through that eye again but I do hope to maybe correct it for cosmetic reasons. Good luck to you all. Take care of that “good eye”!

By LESLIE on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

Stacey,
When I close my right eye, I can only see a black spot in front of me. It’s good to hear I’m not the only one legally blind in one eye. Until 2 or 3 years ago, my lazy eye would only turn out when I was tired or staring at something for too long. Now, it’s always turned out, which bums me out, but I don’t let it bother me so much. I have gone back to wearing glasses since wearing contacts was causing problems in my right eye. I always thought that I was clumsy until I was told that it was because I don’t have 3 dimensional vision. That explained a lot of things, like not being good at anything which requires eye and hand coordination!

By LESLIE on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

Katy, could you send me info on your eye exercised?

By Jason on Oct 13, 2008 | Reply

Hello everyone,

I’m 18 years old and I have a strabismus (I recently had my eye checked up and the doctor said I had an astigmatism in my right eye). I wonder if there is a non-surgical treatment for my strabismus and will wearing glasses help me straighten my right eye (my right eye looks in the far right side so it’s not straight)?

Hope you can help me.

Regards,
Jason

By Muhannad on Oct 24, 2008 | Reply

Hello,
My name is Muhannad, I am from Iraq,I have amblyopia im my right eye,I always dream that oneday I have a solution to my problem,now I think the dream is more nearer than before, I always thinking to comunicate with people having the same problem to benefit each other , and even to make a time in every week that all enter in a chat room & talking .if any one interesting please contact me : E-Mail: muhannad_alfakhri@yahoo.com

By Kathy on Oct 26, 2008 | Reply

I have also looked into the Vision Therapy, but at $125.00 per visit it is very costly and experimental. I would be very interested in hearing any results. I am a 54 yr old female and have the lazy eye in my left eye. I can’t imagine talking to someone and no worrying about my eye turning. K

By Ryan M on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply

Hi, my name is Ryan, and I’m 26 years old. I had a problem with my left eye turning in as a child, but I didn’t need any surgery to correct it. About 5 years ago, I noticed my eyes starting to turn outward. I hear people say my left eye or my right eye is lazy, but the one turning out for me depends on the one that is surpressed. I can also control the eye I’m using as the dominant one. Does anyone else have a similar situation. Oh, the right eye does seem to be worse.

By OLEGARIO Sanchez jr on Dec 25, 2008 | Reply

Hi It’s sad to know that there are so many suffering from amblyopia.I’m fifty-three and I was diagnosed at five years old.I did the patching ritual with no vision improvement.I’ve been told my left amblyoptic eye turns inward slightly sometimes, I was’nt aware of it as I can’t notice it when I look in the mirror.I recently heard there are some Chinese researchers developing some kind of vision therapy which may be promising.I would be intrested in participating in the study or research.I’m also thankful for finding this site and others to share in our quest for treatment or a cure.

By ryan on Jan 1, 2009 | Reply

Lazy eye treatment times could be drastically reduced, new research shows
09 December 2008
PA 312/08

Treatment times for amblyopia — more commonly known as ‘lazy eye’ — could be drastically reduced thanks to research carried out at The University of Nottingham.

Amblyopia is thought to affect up to 2.5 per cent of people and accounts for around 90 per cent of all children’s eye appointments in the UK. Occlusion therapy — patching the normal eye for lengthy periods to ‘train’ the affected eye — is the main treatment for amblyopia. However, this method can be distressing to children, is unpopular with parents and can adversely effect educational development. This type of therapy has been used in various forms since 1743 and has long been considered to only be effective up until late childhood.

The new treatments developed in the Visual Neuroscience Group in the University’s School of Psychology have not only reduced potential treatment times by an unprecedented amount, they have also proved that it is possible to treat amblyopia in adults. Early results suggest gains, that would have required around 120 hours of occlusion therapy to achieve, can be produced after just 10 hours.

Adult test subjects have undertaken challenging visual tasks under computer-controlled conditions. Academics hope that these promising results could be used to develop a child-friendly game that could treat amblyopia. There is also the potential to use these new treatments to supplement occlusion therapy.

The £60,000 project — A Study of Perceptual Learning Effects in Amblyopia — has been funded by the College of Optometrists. Amblyopia is a developmental problem in the brain, not the eye. The part of the brain dealing with vision from the affected eye develops abnormally as a result of atypical visual experience early in life. This results in markedly different levels of vision in each eye which cannot be remedied with spectacles.

The work is being carried out by Andrew Astle, a PhD student at the University.

“The results so far show a drastic improvement on patching, and disprove the long-held belief that adults cannot be treated for this type of condition,” Andrew said. “However, the study is not complete and we’re still looking for subjects to take part in the tests.”

Work set to start in spring 2009 at the University will build on Andrew’s results, examining amblyopia in children and examining the functional and structural organisation of the visual cortex. This EU-wide study has been funded by a European Consortium FP7 grant to the tune of 2.6m Euro. Professor Paul McGraw and Dr Ben Webb in the Visual Neuroscience Group will look at the effects and treatment of amblyopia in children. Other European institutions, including the University of Florence, the Max Planck Institute for Neuroscience and University College London, will examine the condition from the molecular level to its behavioural impact on animal models.

Professor McGraw said “Andrew’s results suggest that the adult amblyopic visual system retains a great deal more neural plasticity than previously thought. Harnessing this plasticity offers a new way of treating this common condition and opens the door to developing novel pharmacological and behavioural interventions for a range of neurological deficits.”

To take part in the Study of Perceptual Learning Effects in Amblyopia, contact Andrew Astle at lpxaa1@nottingham.ac.uk

By Joe on Jan 1, 2009 | Reply

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!

Maybe 2009 could be the year!

Keep your heads up, it seems like the cure is right around the corner.

By Joe on Jan 1, 2009 | Reply

O, and thank you Ryan for the encouraging article.

By Owen on Jan 8, 2009 | Reply

Hi I’m 34, I have Amblyopia in my right eye, it’s exotropic mostly (turns outwards) and lots of people over the years say they can’t tell. Others can see it straight away. When I’m stressed or tired it gets worse. I sometime do business presentations in fromt of large groups. Very strangely when I have done these presentations my eye has started to go Esotropic (turned inwards). My eye was squinting inwards like this when I was young and the eye patch did not work for me, as I used to take it off all the time and my parents didn’t really bother to make me wear it. I don’t blame them. I then had surgery at 8 to shorten the muscle and align my eye. I find it strange that my eye is normally just off straight exotropic but when I get really nervous and stressed it goes Esotropic? Does anyone else find this has happened to them. Been a very lateral thinking chap, i feel that the brain has control over this. I welcome the news that there maybe help for Adults with Amblyopia. I hope this problem can be solved as it has caused me embarrasment over my life and fortunately I have met girlfriends that don’t mind and love me for me, therefore I have led a pretty normal life. Nice to see this site and share the stories. It helps. thanks. Owen. owenhall@hotmail.co.uk

By Robert on Jan 22, 2009 | Reply

Hello, I am a 38 years old and I have two lazy eyes. I was diagnosed with a lazy eye at age 5. I don’t know if I did the patch but I remember vividly having to use the drops. The drops Helped somewhat in my left eye, but it weakened my right eye so much that by the time I was a teenager I had two lazy eyes. I went back to my Doctor in my twenties hoping that something had changed in procedures. I was told that I could get surgery on my eyes but it wouldn’t last since my brain is used to seeing that way. It is becoming a problem with my job(construction). Just wondering if there is help out there. Also am I the only one with two, just curious.

By Joe on Jan 27, 2009 | Reply

Hello everyone I contacted Andrew Astle by email (The guy conducting the study of Amblyopia that Ryan’s post was about). I contacted him to see if I could take part in his study from the U.S. below is his response.

———————–
Dear Joe,

We are recruiting adult amblyopes for our study.

Unfortunately the present study cannot be implemented remotely and would therefore require attendance to our lab here in Nottingham.

Best wishes,

Andrew.

By ryan on Feb 4, 2009 | Reply

Hello everyone.Hope your all well and keeping in high spirits.I am travelling to Nottingham UK on 9th feb to hopefully take part in the trial.I shall keep you all informed.It seems like there is some progress being made around europe and the world in terms of a possible amblyopia treatment and that is very encouraging for me personally and i’m sure for everyone else. Be lucky!

By Linda on Feb 7, 2009 | Reply

I have had amblyopia in my left eye as long as I can remember. I was wearing glasses at age 10 yrs - 13yrs old to correct the problem. However, as a teenager I quit wearing my glasses & my left eye got worse again. Last year I had problems with the vision in my right (good eye). I went to the eye doctor & he not only prescribed lens for my right eye but for my left eye as well. So now I’m back trying to correct the problem of amblyopia once again. My eye doctor told me that there have been adults with amblyopia that have had an accident to where the vision in the good eye was lost. Those people have found out that within a few years, the eye with amblyopia started to improve.

I was also told that some people don’t like it when they start to get vision back in their bad eye because people who see with one eye see differently than with people who have vision in both eyes. He told me that he has had people come back to him once their bad eye started to see better & wanted the correction reversed because they didn’t like the change. So there’s a thought to those of you who want their vision corrected.

By Joe on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply

Good luck with your travel and testing Ryan.

Linda, you bring up an interesting point. I suppose that there would be a period of double vision while the eyes were learning to work together. When my good eye gets stressed sometimes i will get double vision and it is horrible and causes head aches. However, i think that once you get through that then it would be a wonderful blessing.

I know that it sounds small, but it would be cool to be able to do a magic eye someday or golf by myself and not loose a bunch of golf balls because i don’t know if they went in front of a tree or behind a tree down range.

Good point though, definitely something to think about as things progress.

Welcome to the site!

By Megan on Feb 15, 2009 | Reply

Hi
I now realise my story is a familiar one. I was always aware that I had uneven vision in my eyes but I never did anything about it. Now I am 29 and know that when I am tired or drunk my eye turns - I don’t even know which way I just know it doesn’t feel right. I am worried about it getting worse.
Like all of you, I am searching for a cure because it actually scares me to think that this untreatable and will keep deteriorating. Has anyone had success with the computer programs that have been mentioned on this site?
I would love to hear any recommendations.

Cheers, Megan

By Raph on Feb 28, 2009 | Reply

Good luck Ryan

By Brian on Mar 20, 2009 | Reply

Wow, I just came across this site, after being turned down for any law enforcement jobs due to my amblyopia. My bad eye is my left eye, and I do experience the ‘blackening’ part of it. I don’t know exactly, but I believe my left eye is 20/100 or so. I am eagerly awaiting any possible treatments or cures for this problem. Kudos to Ryan for participating in the study. I hope we find something out. I’m almost 26 and have had it since I can remember. I wore a patch on and off, but it was after age 9. I too, would do anything to have good vision in both eyes. I also find it hard to believe that it only affects 2.5% of population, as my uncle has it, and a buddy of mine at work has it. Very odd.

By Nadine on Mar 26, 2009 | Reply

I was diagnosed with Amblyopia in my left eye at the age of 36. I have been wearing glasses since the second grade. I never knew there was the potential for me to get this disease. When I began complaining to my eye doctor about loss of color in my vision he responded with giving me eye drops he said I had “dry eyes”. I wish that’s all I had. I needed a second opinion and after five minutes in the chair he diagnosed me and my world changed instantly… The strange part is that after about two weeks of darkness in my left eye the vision retruned with color so I thought they were wrong but it went again. Each day I research on the internet looking for inspiration. This disease affects me when I am walking in an airport, when I am at work.I try to remember at least you have one eye stil functioning but when you have something and it is no longer ther you miss it and I am truly seeking a way to cope a way to survive and keep my job. At work people thingk I am ignoring them when they approach me from the left. I feel bad but I know if the truth was out I might be released from my position. I have worked so hard to get this position. Sometimes when I place my hand over one eye and hold my eye in a particular positon I can see things with my left eye. Is this normal? I am seeking hope and I thank this site for allowing me to vent..

By Nate on Mar 30, 2009 | Reply

I’m 19 years old and have had the lazy eye my whole life. Like most, I tried patching, but nothing came of it. I also see black “splotches” when covering up my left (good) eye. I have considered patching it myself for half an hour or so a day. Has anyone tried this? If so, has it helped, and is there any chance at making my good eye worse?

Thanks

By Joe on Mar 31, 2009 | Reply

Welcome Nadine,Brian & Megan.

Nadine - I work in Human Resources and I was wondering why you believe that your amblyopia will cause you to lose your job. Is good vision a requirement? Could reasonable accommodations not be made to allow you to stay in the position?

-Joe

By Rob on Apr 2, 2009 | Reply

First, I’d just like to say that it’s really nice to have a site like this where we could all get together and share our feelings/knowledge on this subject. So thanks to all those making it possible!

So…I’m 27 years old and have amblyopia in my left eye. It was caught too late when I was a child, so from what the doctors tell me it’s now a permanent condition. Every day I pray that a cure is discovered…I really hate living my life always wondering what it’s like to see out of both eyes and wondering what I’m missing.

I’m not sure of my exact vision in that eye (I’m actually going to the eye doctor this week), but if I cover my good eye, everything is basically a blur in my bad eye. The best way to explain it is that I can see that things are there, and could tell what color they are for the most part, but I can’t always tell what they are unless it’s big or a common item. When it comes to an eye chart or reading, forget it, I can’t even make out the big E on the first line, haha. It really is rather depressing!

Here’s a question I haven’t really seen anyone talking about. Do you guys seem to get really tired alot?? I ALWAYS feel tired the past few years, and as much as I try to tell myself it’s something else, I really believe its my eyes (I also tried almost every other thing it could be to no avail). I feel like since my good eye is using double the strength to make up for the bad eye, it’s causing my eyes to become very tired which in effect is causing me to become very tired. I don’t even remember the last time I could actually say I went a day feeling alive and awake. It’s really very frustrating and I was wondering if anyone else experiences something like this?

So that’s my story….hopefully one day SOON there will be a cure for us all! I’ll continuing researching as much as possible and will continue checking in and helping out on this site as much as I can. If anyone has any suggestions or just wants to chat, please email me at rlesposito@gmail.com

By ryan on Apr 7, 2009 | Reply

hi guys, well since i last posted on here there have been quite a few developments. it seems that my eyesight is 20/20 so i am not amblyopic i just am not able to use both eyes at the same time. however, i recently came across the story of “stereo sue” (link posted below) she was 50 when she decided to try vision therapy exercises. within 3 weeks she was noticing objects popping out at her like never before. i really recommend you read the article and listen to the audio clip. it really does show that if an eye doctor says there is little that they can do for you that you should never give up hope and keep searching for alternatives, hope this helps some of you out there. based on this i managed to find an optometrist in northern england who is happy to help me with the vision therapy she said it just requires alot of dedication.
here is the link to the story. keep the faith guys!!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5507789

By Nadine on Apr 12, 2009 | Reply

Joe that is a good question. At my job accuracy is everything so if I tried to break out a magnifying glass or anything that looked as though I can not see I might be in trouble. There is no position that you really do not use your eyes. When I was hired they stressed accuracy and speed. As of now I have no errors against me and I strive to keep it that way.My typing has slowed to much slower pace because its hard to read others writing. It would be great if HR worked for me but I just do not believe it would so I keep my issues to myself.. It’s the what if that scares me the most.

By david moore on Apr 14, 2009 | Reply

there is a doctor in long beach I believe can help you. her website is straighteyes.com good luck.

By Joe Harris on Apr 21, 2009 | Reply

Welcome Rob! I to get tired very easily as well. If I get comfortable on the couch or in a chair then I am out. Also, I have a horrible time staying awake while driving a car, especially at night. My wife thinks that I am just being a baby, but I literally cannot stay awake. It is pretty scary. My wife and I like to watch movies and I would say that I have fallen asleep during probably 80% of the movies since we were in our teens (very frustrating).

I had never really thought about it being contributed to my eyes until now. I will be sure to ask my eye doctor about this next time.

Welcome Again!

-Joe

By Joe Harris on Apr 21, 2009 | Reply

Nadine,

With your record of accuracy, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, you need to do what you feel is right in your situation.

Good luck,

-Joe

By Joe Harris on Apr 21, 2009 | Reply

David,

Thanks for the website.

Everyone,

My Amblyopia (lazy eye) was not associated with strabismus (turning or crossing of the eye). That is why my condition was never caught.

I have 2 questions for everyone:

1.) Was your Amblyopia associated with Strabismus?

2.) Does anyone have a child afflicted with Amblyopia as well? I have a 2 year old son and a daughter on the way. Does anyone know how likely my children will be to have this?

-Joe

By Richard on Apr 23, 2009 | Reply

I have been asking myself where to go for tratment or surgery to correct strabismus in Kenya. Please please inform me and save a life!! Thanx!

By Raph on May 2, 2009 | Reply

To Ryan: Could you give your e-mail?

By mirthe on May 5, 2009 | Reply

hello Ryan,

I can also control which eye is dominant. I thought that everybody has this. I look with left than with right. It is exhausting.

Mirthe

By ryan on May 6, 2009 | Reply

hi. i’ve been given a brock string, some 3d glasses and charts and some glasses with a suitable prism in to help even my eyes out. been doing this 3 weeks and i’m noticing little changes already. doing the exercises at least once a day.

dcksry@aol.com

By Chris on May 14, 2009 | Reply

I have amblopyia in my right eye. I was diagnosised as a child and failed eye patching. I am now 35 and my vision strain is affecting my normal activities. I am pretty much legally blind in my right eye and have all but lost hope in improvement. I have considered eye therapy, but all the eye Docotors I have seen say that it will not do much to improve the right eye and is not worth the expense. I really want to be able to see normally. As an avid reader, I have decreased my reading because of the severe eye strain. It also affects the tasks I can do for my career. Has any one with very severe lazy eye improved their vision as an adult with eye therapy?

By John on May 20, 2009 | Reply

Im a 40 year old man and have amblyopia in my left eye. I had surgery when I was 3 years old. It looks ok cosmetically but when I get tired or use my eyes in anyway it will easily tire and turn.
I always hated my bad eye. I find it to be very embarrassing even though most the time it looks ok. But as soon as I do anything it will turn. I tried patching when I was younger but I dont think I kept using the patch enough because I didnt like using it as a child.

Recently I did vision therapy for about a year and it did help wake up the eye some but it didnt really do much. I still cant control my eye.

Does anyone know what can help adult amblyopia?

Has anyone had any success in improving your bad eye?

Please if you had success Id really like to know.

Thanks!

By Peter on May 24, 2009 | Reply

HI
I have heard about new treatment called rTMS based on a new research from Dr. Ben Thompson, a post-doctoral fellow working with Dr. Robert Hess at the McGill Vision Research Unit.

Any one tried or knew about this treatment.

Thanks.

By Marlon on Jun 6, 2009 | Reply

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with amblyopia for quite sometime. Since the age of 1 I have had surgery to correct my strabismus, however patching was unsuccessful. At the age of 12-13 I started therapy again ( Patching and other vision therapy exercises ) there has been improvement but not alot. Now I am 24 and I still have amblyopia. My doctor suggested surgery to correct my strabismus along with doing vision therapy…..Has anyone tried this before? My doctor mentioned that with the therapy ( some of it envolving computers and watching tv ) can cause my brain to see one picture and to eventually use both eyes. On the other hand many doctors have said nothing can be done……I have no idea what to do next…any thoughts?

By Tetro on Jul 5, 2009 | Reply

Hi everyone,

I am 25 year old, and I have a “lazy eye” since I was 3 years. When I was a child I try eye patching without any significant results.
I found a new treatment, maybe this is THE ONE, or again, maybe not…
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090622152035.htm

It’s very frustrating in life to try to to something and other people look at you differently. I’ve lost many opportunities in life because of this and I understand each and everyone of you.
I don’t know how important is this to you, but to me, when I go to sleep, in a dream, I NEVER, once in this life have this problem. I try to associate dream sequence with brain dynamical neurological processes. I will keep you posted with what I discover.
If anyone will want to talk… tetro@gmx.com

Keep hope alive!

By Joe on Jul 7, 2009 | Reply

Does anyone else have any information on the article posted by Tetro? I would love to try this new program!!!

By Joe on Jul 7, 2009 | Reply

I emailed Dr. Polat from the above article.
I am keeping my fingers crossed for positive response.

I will keep you all updated.

Thank you Tetro!

By Mendy on Jul 14, 2009 | Reply

I have had amblyopia in the right eye since 4 years old. I did the patching till I was 10 years old - this did not work though. I am now 33 years old and am starting to have severe headaches. I am also having a really hard time driving - the sensitivity of light and getting so sleepy have made it almost impossible to drive. My “bad” eye is now starting to droop and get very red most days - to the point people are asking me about it all the time. I wear a contact in my good eye - but, it too seems to get very red and irritated come 6PM - most nights I just end up going to be because I have such a headache. I am starting to feel anxiety due to this…does anyone else feel that way?

By dinesh on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

hi,
i m 26 yrs old suffering from amblyopia in left eye since birth.i have visited many doctors arond india but hope less. is there any one around this world who can treat this to some extent.if am very thankful to the information senders.dinesh_lucky31@yahoo.com.

By Munira on Jul 24, 2009 | Reply

Hi,
am 26 Saudi female,,suffering from lazy eye since 2 years old,, did the patch n surgery, all didnt work,, i have question, does amblyopia condition get worse growing up? does the appearance of the lazy eye is normal?
Thanks all of sharing ur experiences,, it helped alot

By Cameron on Jul 25, 2009 | Reply

My spouse was in severe car accident resulting in major brain trauma. She is doing incredibly better and at this time it is limited primarily by small memory issues and Strimbisimus. She has had surgery and now wears a prism. I always hope that more research will be done. Do you have a name of a good research project for donations and a person to write to encourage stem cell research? Joanne is my inspiration and amazes me daily.

By Tetro on Jul 30, 2009 | Reply

Found another article about Levodopa for those who want to take it…

http://www.iovs.org/cgi/reprint/33/9/2722.pdf

By Joe on Aug 3, 2009 | Reply

Thank you Lois.

Tetro, thank you for the article. It looks like this is from 1992, which is before I found out about my anisometropic amblyopia. I wonder what ever happened with this…..

I thought that it might be nice to give a link to the amblyopic wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblyopia

Also, I looked up the “Levodopa” drug that is discussed in the article that Tetro posted. Seems to be a drug used for Parkinson’s disease.

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/levodopa.html

Does anyone know where if the is somewhere in central Missouri that does the computerized vision therapy?

By Tetro on Aug 4, 2009 | Reply

Joe maybe this links will help you:

http://www.optometrists.org/drsutter/index.html

http://www.drdibler.com/index.html

By Tetro on Aug 15, 2009 | Reply

Found another treatment for adult amblyopia, this time in Canada…

http://www.themedguru.com/articles/treatment_for_adult_amblyopia_in_sight_with_magnetic_therapy-8616482.html

If someone get in contact with those guys, please let me know.

By Tetro on Aug 22, 2009 | Reply

Hey, in my day to day search I found this laser based instrument for home use.

http://www.ya-queen.com/ophthalnicare.html

Does anyone use this instrument? The results are very attractive.

I think I will buy one for home application and see the results.

By Costas on Aug 22, 2009 | Reply

Lois

+86 is China!! Run!!! heheh.

By Costas on Aug 22, 2009 | Reply

Lois

I have talked with Dr. Uri a few months back and he told me that he is in the process of developing a “game” for treatment but he could n`t give any more info(maybe another company has the rights).
Anyway i contacted accuvision a partner of neuro-vision and they gave me the following answers:
”
1) What is the average success rate?

50% of patients who are suitable, gain 2 lines of vision on a vision test
chart.

2) Is there a guarantee of success?

We do not provide a guarantee. Unlike other treatments in eye care where the
success depends mainly on the doctor and the equipment, while the patient is
passive, in NeuroVision the success mainly depends on the patient’s
performance, motivation and compliance.

3) If the eyes are not perfectly aligned can the treatment cause double
vision?

Yes, there is a possibility of creating diplopia (double vision) in patients
who have squint. So for that reason our inclusion criteria limits to minimal
squint of 8 prism dioptres.

4) Is the treatment worthwhile if the eye is suppressed?

Yes, it is worthwhile. In many cases, if there is good improvement in
vision, and the difference between the eyes is minimized, there starts being
fusion sometimes complete fusion and sometimes intermittent.

Even if the eye remains suppressed, in the event that the patient loses the
vision in the strong eye, the suppressed eye will start functioning and the
patient is in much better condition.

5) Would later having treatment to align the eyes affect any benefits gained
with the treatment?

If the misalignment is more than 8 prism dioptres then yes, we recommend
first correcting the misalignment and only afterwards doing NeuroVision

6) If the eye is suppressed, could the treatment reverse that?

It depends case by case. We do have many cases that started with suppression
and ended with fusion, but we can’t guarantee that.”

My main concern is the use of both eyes but as you can see they do not guarantee anything…
Your opinion?

Costas

By Tetro on Aug 23, 2009 | Reply

Any supplementary therapy besides that laser instrument I think should be this -
http://www.visiontherapysolutions.net/ambp.html

Lois, Costas thanks for your info. I will check with my doctor and see what comes next.

By Tetro on Aug 23, 2009 | Reply

Also, I talked couple of days ago with Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Institution - http://eng.mntk.ru/.
This is a hi-tech institute in Moscow and they told me that they have a amblyopia department, and apparently a treatment based on re-arranging retinal cells and brain connections. I don’t know what to think now, since there are various programs, and still, there is no cure for amblyopia.
I currently live in Europe and the doctors seems to not care (they treat amblyopia in kids maximum age 6, for the older ones they don’t bother since everyone knows that brain plasticity disappear). With the ones I talked told me to get on with my life cause is no cure but I will try all the possibilities out there.

By Tetro on Aug 23, 2009 | Reply

Lois,

Thank you for your words.
I think that every problem has a solution. It’s up to us to find it.
I will join that group and seek further solutions.
Thanks again.

By Tetro on Sep 5, 2009 | Reply

I found on eHealth forum a story that I want to believe, and hope that this will happen with all of us:

http://ehealthforum.com/health/strabismus-amblyopia-self-correction-t161808.html

By dave on Sep 29, 2009 | Reply

hi folks. ive been taking zoloft 100mg (generic) for the past few days and my vision has much improved. though my left eye still drifts at the end of the day, keeping it trained straight is much more manageable even effortless. also my mood is much more elevated. i’m going to try to cut the dose down the next few days and see how that goes.

take care.

By sid on Oct 11, 2009 | Reply

hi guys, i know how you all feel coz i have the same condition. Its good to have a site like this where we can share our experiences. I have amblyopia since i was 4 yrs old. sometimes my left eye goes inward but im not totally blind in my left eye . I can read the letters on keyboard from my left eye but not so clearly. I heard about some chinese doing some magnetic treatment to cure it upto 70%. Hope some we have the cure.

By LUIS on Oct 13, 2009 | Reply

hey people, I really hate this amblyopia since it has prevented me from doing what I always wanted to do since I was little e. police officer and military helicopter pilot. Now I am just in the military but not a pilot, Sid this is what I found on the magnetic treatment so far but if anyone else has more information please let me know, i feel that its unfair that im able to serve and go to war 2 times with my condition yet I cannot become a police officer and live a normal life with a normal job that I would like. I am stressed! I have amblyopia in my left eye about 20/200 I see everything frosty and blury, I had this since I remember but i notice that I have good pheripeal vision I am able to see but not clear. If anyone has a cure please contact me lu1srgza@hotmail.com please

By LUIS on Oct 13, 2009 | Reply

http://www.eye-patch-info.com/adult-amblyopia-cure.html

By Tia on Oct 20, 2009 | Reply

Hi Guys,
I am 27 female affected by amblyopia. My mom took me to the doctor at the age of 8 to get my crossed eye corrected. I then discovered that i had catarat and also suffering from amblyopia. I tried the eye patch like most of you but that did not work. I cant see the big E on the Eye chart from my left Eye so I have pretty much masted the art of ignoring my left eye. I am worried because my right eyes are not perfect either as i also had cataract surgery in my Right eye. It is really frustrating living with strabismus as it affects my confidence and as i result i am just not a happy person. I am however grateful for the vison I have in my right eye.

I am planning to do strabismus surgery soon to see if I can get my eyes to align better. I would like know however if anyone has/had cataract with they amblyopia. I did a cataract surgury at the age of 12 on my strabismus eye but had no was lens implanted. Do you know if a lense implant would help my lazy eye to aligh better. Please share your experiences as it relates to cataract with ambylopia and strabismus. Thanks for all the post, it really helps to know that other are feeling the same way as i am..

By Garret Gebhardt on Oct 28, 2009 | Reply

In elementary school i noticed my left eye didn’t work too well during the eye tests i told them this year after year and my parents learned only after it was too late. So my parents took me to an optometrist and i was told nothing could be done. A few years later i realized i want a career in the us military but learned that only one eye with 20 vision is not enough, my other eye being 200. so i searched the hell out of the internet. I am 15 and i think there is hope but there is nothing in my region to help.

By Stacey on Dec 3, 2009 | Reply

I have amblyopia in my left eye, have since I was a small toddler. At any rate, I cant exactly say it impares my vision, because i just never saw straight through my left eye to begin with. I only focus and see things out of my right eye, and if i cover my right eye, my left eye has 20/200 vision. Scary. At any rate, what I HAVE noticed lately is that when i am tired, my amblyopic eye wanders, it never did that before. Also, I’m getting more and more headaches the older I get. (I’m 34) *Sigh* I’m a little nervous about all of this.

By Joseph on Dec 10, 2009 | Reply

I have just turned 22 and have been wearing glasses since I was about 9. I was told I have a Lazy Eye and I patched for a while but it showed little signs of improvement. I am currently in the system with a Lasik Surgery establishment in order to correct my vision so I may persue a career as a Navy SEAL after I enlist. I was told my right eye is Amblyoptic and that it is impossible to cure. Since I was six it has been my burning dream to be a US Navy SEAL and I am willing to undergo any means of therapy, surgery anything in order to strengthen my eye and qualify for Lasik surgery to recieve 20/20 vision. Any ifnormation that anyone can provide I would be of the utmost grateful..I’ll do anything.

By Suile on Dec 13, 2009 | Reply

To Joseph,

You should check out “Fixing my Gaze” by Susan Barry, aka Stereo Sue. Loads of info on the net about this book.

Here’s one quote:

In 1992 Bruce Wick and colleagues published a study in which dramatic improvements in acuity of the amblyopic eye as well as binocular vision were obtained in anisometropic amblyopes with the proper glasses, part-time occlusion, and vision therapy. This study contrasted with published results by Meyer and colleagues, who found that occlusin treatment alone produced improvements only in patients under ten years of age. The difference between these two studies was the use of vision therapy.
List of studies follows……….

Also, check out Light-adjustable lenses (LAL), which won’t give you 20/20 vision in your amblyopic eye but it might be useful for your other eye:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=Light-adjustable%20lenses%20(LAL)

By Cheryl on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply

Joseph,

I have the same eye problems as you do, and am also trying to enlist in the Navy, tho my dream was to work for the Nurse Corps.

My recruiter said it is possible to get a waiver, but everything I am reading points the other way saying strabismus limits a Sailor’s “global mobility”… whatever that means. Thus far, it’s been a frustrating process because it seems like the rules are pretty arbitrary on waivers.

Let me know how things are going for you… Best of luck.

By Rob on Jan 8, 2010 | Reply

Hey all,
I haven’t posted on here in awhile, but have continued looking for cures or positive developments, but haven’t had much success. I sent out an email to Dr. Benjamin Thompson, the Dr. from the 2008 article on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as a possible cure.

http://www.eye-patch-info.com/adult-amblyopia-cure.html

Thought I would share his response so we can all keep the faith that researchers and doctors are still trying! Also, they are looking for volunteers if anyone is from the Canada area. Here’s the response I received:

“Hello,
My Name is Simon clavagnier. I’m the one who has replaced Dr ben thompson since he moved to Oakland, New Zealand.
Every treatments I’m aware of so far are still in an experimental state and their chances of success are not yet 100%.
in our lab we are currently running two complemantary research paradigms about putative treatment:
on one side there is the magnetic brain stimulation you were refering to.
the improvements we made sionce the 2008 paper are to decrease the duration of the stimulation: from 15 min to 40 sec and to increase the duration of the effect (two weeks or even one month). A lot of things remains to be done.
On the other side, we created a new visual training based on videogame (TETRIS) using an Ipod. the training is about teaching the brain to use the information of the two eyes in order to perform the game. the volunteer can not do the game if his does use only one eye.

As still experimental (and for a long time), they are only available in our place (Montreal, Canada). But we are always searching for new volunteers.
If You don’t live too far from from Montreal we would be please to meet you.
Best regards,
Simon clavagnier “

By Rob on Jan 8, 2010 | Reply

Also, if anyone has heard of any updated cures or research I would love to hear about it! It’s always good to have contacts! You can feel free to email me at rlesposito@gmail.com!

Like I said, I haven’t posted in awhile…but I’m a 28 year old with amblyopia in my left eye that really ruins my life. Like everyone else here, I’m eager to keep faith and find a cure! Hope to hear from some of you!

By CosX on Jan 8, 2010 | Reply

Rob

When the Dr says “effect” what does he mean? Fusion?

By Rob on Jan 11, 2010 | Reply

Hey CosX,

Not 100% sure…I was thinking he meant the duration of treatment…like you would have it done every day for 2 weeks to a month…but not sure about that.

By Beverly on Jan 18, 2010 | Reply

Hi All,
My husband is 55 and has Amblyopia in his left eye since birth and never got detected until it was too late in his teens to do anything about it., Unfortunately, two months ago my husband had a stroke to his right good eye, some plaque from his coradid artery broke loose and went to his only functioning good eye., we were very lucky it did not go to the brain. He had what you call a Central Retina Artery Occlusion and is the most devasting in the Opthamology world as it causes sudden blindness with no cure. He has very limited vision in the Amblyopia eye, as I am sure you all can understand., luckily for this limited vision he can atleast get around without bumping into things, and has also with the help of his friends, is even golfing again, they help him to see where his ball is going and help him angle himself right. This has been devastating to him and our family. He was a very healthy active 55 year old and now his driving has been taken away, tv is limited to the technology that we have put in place and he works with the help of readers and magnifiers to assist him but life will never be the same for him. If anyone out there knows of any non-invasive treatments for the Amplyopia eye, please contact me. He cannot have any surgery as he cannot afford to lose what little vision he has, he would then be completely blind so surgery is completely out. Again, if anyone knows of something please contact me., I search day and night and cannot find anything to help him. Thank you all for your posts, they really help.

By Rob on Jan 19, 2010 | Reply

Hey guys,
Just curious, what types of prescription glasses do you wear? Single Vision, progressive, bifocals? I’m having some issues with my glasses and was curious what others in my situation are wearing? Thanks!

By Beverly on Jan 20, 2010 | Reply

Lois,
Thank you so much for the information, I will certainly check it out.
Thanks again,
Beverly

By carl on Feb 6, 2010 | Reply

hello Lois
You mentioned before that got exotropia(means mild strabismus if im right) so i wonder why didnt regained full binocular vision under vision therapy you passed
thank you for answer ahead

By carl on Feb 7, 2010 | Reply

thank You for quick answer ,i hope surgery will be successful and vt work for You ,i asked You because i want take vt training and i wondered why it didnt work for You
best wishes Lois

By carl on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply

Hello Lois
id like to contact directly to dr.Ken Koslowe so could You ask him and pass me his email address ,id be very grateful
thank You

By zac on Feb 23, 2010 | Reply

yes yes yes, i’m 18, patched for a couple months and got my eye from 20/100 to 20/20 with a computer program patching 4 hours a day. no i have to do therapy to get my eyes to fuse the images together.

By Shah on Feb 25, 2010 | Reply

Zac,

Can you please provide details about those programs? How did you got those? I am 37 yr old and my weak eye vision is slightly better than 20/40 but i would like to try and see if i can improve it.

By Christina on Mar 10, 2010 | Reply

Hi Stacey, I realize you posted to this board over 2 years ago and probably haven’t looked back since, but you are the only other person I’ve read who also experiences the blackout in the Amblyopic eye. I have Ocular MG, and am now wondering if that is a symptom related to Ocular MG. Don’t want to worry you but maybe thats what you have too?