About Amblyopia
Key Highlights
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Non-surgical treatment approach focused on vision therapy.Most effective when initiated in early childhood.Can prevent permanent, uncorrectable vision loss in the affected eye.Improves depth perception and binocular vision.Treatment is typically painless and performed at home under supervision.
Who is this surgery for?
- Diagnosis of reduced visual acuity in one eye not fully correctable with glasses.
- Presence of strabismus (misaligned eyes).
- Significant refractive error difference between the two eyes (anisometropia).
- Visual deprivation in early childhood due to conditions like cataract or ptosis.
- Failure of the brain to properly process images from one eye during critical developmental periods.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist to confirm diagnosis and rule out other causes.
- Cycloplegic refraction to determine the accurate glasses prescription.
- Discussion of the treatment plan (patching, drops, therapy) with the child and parents/caregivers.
- Acquiring the necessary supplies, such as adhesive eye patches or prescribed eye drops.
- Setting a consistent daily schedule for treatment and establishing a reward system for a child.
Risks & possible complications
- Potential for reversible amblyopia to become permanent if untreated.
- Skin irritation or allergy from adhesive patches.
- Temporary blurring of vision in the stronger eye when using atropine drops.
- Risk of inducing amblyopia in the patched eye if treatment is not monitored correctly (rare).
- Frustration or non-compliance from the child, which can reduce treatment effectiveness.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Recovery involves consistent adherence to the prescribed therapy over weeks to months.
- Regular follow-up visits (every 4-12 weeks) to monitor vision improvement and adjust treatment.
- Gradual reduction of patching/atropine use as vision improves, under doctor's guidance.
- Possible need for continued maintenance therapy to prevent regression.
- Incorporation of vision exercises and activities to encourage use of the weaker eye.
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Typical hospital stay: 0 days (outpatient)
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Expected recovery time: Ongoing over 6 months to 2+ years
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering amblyopia in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for amblyopia in India include Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Manipal Hospital Goa , known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform amblyopia. MediFyr helps you compare ophthalmologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for amblyopia compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Amblyopia in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated ophthalmology teams and experience managing patients undergoing amblyopia.
Vihaan Reddy is a 4-year-old boy...
Vihaan Reddy is a 4-year-old boy from a loving family in Chennai. His parents first noticed he tilted his head to one side when watching cartoons and often bumped into furniture on his left side. During a routine preschool vision screening, the nurse found a significant difference in vision between his eyes. An ophthalmologist confirmed a diagnosis of strabismic amblyopia, where his right eye turned inward, and his brain had begun ignoring its input. The doctor recommended a two-part treatment: first, patching his stronger left eye for 6 hours daily to force his weaker right eye to work, combined with corrective glasses. Vihaan hated the patch at first, finding it itchy and embarrassing at playschool. His parents turned patching time into a fun activity with special games and rewards. After 6 months of consistent treatment, his right eye alignment improved dramatically, and his vision in that eye went from 20/200 to 20/40. The emotional journey was tough; Vihaan felt frustrated and different, while his parents felt guilt for not catching it sooner. After treatment, his confidence soared. He no longer tilts his head, plays football with his friends, and his parents are relieved and vigilant about follow-up appointments.
Ophthalmologists for Amblyopia
Explore experienced ophthalmologists who regularly perform amblyopia and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 21 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 27 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 5 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 28 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
- 28 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 23 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 19 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
- 15 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 12 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 9 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 20 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 9 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 16 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 17 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Ranchi, Ranchi
- 16 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 13 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 10 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist