What condition is described as "lazy eye"?

Amblyopia, commonly referred to as "lazy eye," is a condition where one eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity, typically due to improper eye alignment or the inability of the eyes to work together effectively. This occurs often because the brain favors one eye over the other, leading to reduced vision in the less favored eye. Amblyopia can develop during childhood and, if left untreated, it can result in permanent vision impairment.

The condition often results from factors such as strabismus (misaligned eyes), differences in refractive power between the two eyes, or other visual issues. In contrast, cataracts, glaucoma, and astigmatism relate to different eye health concerns; cataracts involve clouding of the lens, glaucoma is characterized by increased intraocular pressure leading to optic nerve damage, and astigmatism is an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens affecting focus. These conditions do not involve the same fundamental issue of visual acuity linked to amblyopia.