How do you know if you have lazy eye?

Question

How do you know if you have it? Thanks.

Answer 1

You can't tell yourself as there are several different ways to have poor vision in one eye, that only a professional examination will differentiate.

A lazy eye often "turns" (stabismus, squint) but it is possible to have a squint without a lazy eye, and have a lazy eye without a squint.

If the vision in a poor eye improves looking through a small pinhole, it shows that its main problem is refractive, not amblyopia (lazy eye) as there the vision would be much the same, or even slightly worse.

But vision that doesn't improve with a pinhole could be other than a lazy eye: cataract, macular degeneration, optic atrophy... and more.
Sorting these possibilities one from another needs an examination.

Answer 2

The first photo is actually more useful. The reflections in the corneas are very symmetrically placed, which they would not be with a significant squint (turn, strabismus) There may be a degree of facial asymmetry, which almost everyone has, but that isn't a lazy eye either. A lazy eye, *which is undetectable to observation* if it is the only problem present, has the formal name amblyopia and is, and is only poor vision due to a lack of development in the eye when young, which does not immediately correct with spectacles.

Answer 3

Two tests. The first is to hold a light in front of your face and note the reflections in each eye. If those reflections are symmetrical, you likely do not have a 'lazy eye', or what we call a strabismus. If the reflections are not symmetrical, move on to the next test. The next test is to cover the 'good' eye with a 3x5 card. Remove the card paying close attention to the uncovered eye. If you have a strabismus, the 'lazy eye' will move away from it's central position.

Needless to say, you will need somebody to observe your eyes during both tests, because you won't be able to observe your own eyes.

Answer 4

It is a lazy eye if the doctor says it's a lazy eye. It may or may not be deviated, or it may be deviated intermittently, or it may have acuity one line worse than the other eye, or only slightly worse. The vision of the lazy eye is always worse, although there may be exceptions.

Answer 5

when your eye occasionally blinks or trembles by itself

Answer 6

It stays in bed when the other one gets up in the morning