What is another term for 'lazy eye'?

The term 'lazy eye' is commonly used to refer to amblyopia, which is a condition characterized by the poor development of vision in one eye. This occurs when one eye is not correctly aligned with the other or does not transmit accurate visual information to the brain. As a result, the brain may begin to favor the stronger eye, leading to reduced visual acuity in the affected eye.

Amblyopia typically develops in early childhood, and if left untreated, the vision deficit can be permanent. Treatment often involves patching the stronger eye to encourage the use of the weaker eye, thus promoting equal visual development.

Understanding amblyopia's distinction from other conditions is important. Strabismus, for instance, refers to a misalignment of the eyes, which can contribute to amblyopia but is not synonymous with it. Diplopia refers to double vision, a different visual disturbance. Presbyopia is age-related difficulty in focusing on near objects, which is also distinct from amblyopia. Therefore, amblyopia is the correct term that closely aligns with the description of 'lazy eye.'