Can amblyopia in one eye affect the other eye?

In general, whether monocular amblyopia affects the other eye depends on the severity of the amblyopia, whether timely treatment is received, and daily eye-use habits. If there are vision abnormalities or discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. The detailed analysis is as follows:

If monocular amblyopia is mild and treated promptly during the critical period of visual development, it usually does not affect the other eye. In such cases, effective stimulation of the amblyopic eye's development can be achieved through methods such as patching the healthy eye and wearing corrective glasses, thereby balancing binocular visual function. Since the healthy eye receives proper use and protection, its visual function remains normal without any vision impairment.

However, if monocular amblyopia is severe and left untreated for a long time, or if excessive reliance on the healthy eye occurs in daily life, the other eye may be affected. The amblyopic eye remains suppressed for prolonged periods, forcing the healthy eye to bear the entire visual workload. This may lead to visual fatigue, resulting in decreased vision, and could also cause binocular vision dysfunction, such as double vision or loss of stereoscopic vision, thereby impairing the normal function of the healthy eye.

To prevent adverse effects of monocular amblyopia on the other eye, regular eye examinations are recommended to detect and treat eye problems early. Additionally, it is important to develop good eye-use habits, maintain proper reading and writing posture, avoid prolonged near-work, and engage in appropriate outdoor activities to protect overall eye health.