Does your child have a lazy eye? It forms when sight in one eye is suppressed. This might happen if your child isn't able to see properly through one eye because of issues with distance vision, and in some cases, astigmatism, or something that might be limiting clear vision in that eye. In most cases, an eye patch is prescribed to remedy a lazy eye. Our patients are advised to have their patch on for several hours daily, and often the patients are required glasses as well. Patching.
It can be quite difficult to have your child wear a patch, especially if they are quite young. When the good eye is patched, it makes it harder for your child to see. It can be difficult to explain the process to a young child; that they need to wear the patch to help the sight in their weaker eye, but this can only be done when their strong eye is covered, thus restricting their vision. There are a number of tricks to encourage your child to wear their patch. Employing the use of a reward chart with stickers can really work for some kids. Patch manufacturers understand the issue; patches are made in lots of kid-friendly colors and patterns. Make it an activity by giving them the opportunity to choose their patch every day and then putting a sticker on the chart when the patch is properly worn. Kids who are a little older will be able to intellectualize the patching process, so it's helpful to have a talk about it.
Another thing some parents find helpful is also placing a patch on their child's favorite doll or stuffed animal. Flotation wings are also helpful in keeping little kids from removing their patches.
A positive result needs you to stay focused on the goal of improving your child's vision and ultimately, their quality of life.