Wow Vision Therapy Blog

On Monday evening, August 18, 2025, I had the privilege of joining my colleague, Dr. Leonard Press in our debate with Dr. Timothy Hug and Dr. Jolie LeGate, in a special online session hosted by the Binocular Vision, Perception, and Pediatric Optometry Section (BVPPO) of the American Academy of Optometry. The event brought together professionals from across the country. The topic? An age-old debate: Is the best way to treat amblyopia (sometimes called “lazy eye”) with patching—or with binocular vision therapy?

Why This Debate Matters to Families

For centuries, patching the stronger eye has been the “go-to” treatment for amblyopia. The idea is simple: cover the good eye so the weaker eye is forced to work harder. While this method can sometimes improve eyesight in the weaker eye, it comes with challenges. Children often dislike wearing the patch, it can interfere with everyday life, and most importantly—it doesn’t fix the real problem.

Modern vision science has revealed that amblyopia isn’t just an “eye” problem—it’s a binocular vision problem. That means the eyes are not working together as a team, and the brain isn’t combining their input properly. The blurry vision in one eye is actually a side effect of this deeper issue.

What We Presented at the BVPPO Event

Dr. Press and I emphasized that when treating amblyopia, the first step should always be to prescribe the right glasses, giving the child the clearest, most balanced vision possible. From there, instead of patching, the focus should be on binocular vision therapy—treatment that helps both eyes learn to work together again.

Here are some of the key points we shared:

• Amblyopia is a teaming problem. Success comes from teaching the two eyes to work together, not just making the weaker eye stronger.
• Vision therapy builds binocularity. Activities and technology are used to restore depth perception (3D vision) and visual balance, leading to lasting improvements.
• Treatment works beyond childhood. Thanks to brain plasticity, patients—even teenagers and adults—can benefit from binocular approaches.
• Patching may still be useful—but as a backup. It should no longer be the “first choice” when better, science-backed options are available.

Backed by Leading Research

Our position is strongly supported by the research of Dr. Robert Hess of McGill University, one of the world’s foremost experts on amblyopia. In his recent review article, published in Vision Research, Volume 226, January 2025, entitled: Towards a principled and efficacious approach to the treatment of amblyopia. A review, he stated:

“The acuity loss is a secondary consequence of the binocular loss … Therapy must be directed at the primary problem—binocular dysfunction—because this underlies the functional disability.”

This message reinforces what we see every day at Wow Vision Therapy: when children and adults with amblyopia receive binocular treatment, not only does eyesight improve, but so does quality of life.

A Better Future for Patients

The BVPPO event was an encouraging sign that the conversation is shifting in the right direction. With a lively discussion, it’s clear that more eye care professionals are ready to move beyond the patch and embrace treatments that address the root cause of amblyopia.

At Wow Vision Therapy, we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement—helping patients of all ages restore true binocular vision and experience the confidence, comfort, and clarity that comes with it.

If you or your child has amblyopia and would like to find help, you can contact us here.

Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FOVDR