Occlusion Therapy (Patching)

Occlusion therapy involves covering one eye with a patch or opaque lens. It's used to eliminate double vision when other treatments aren't suitable, or to treat amblyopia (lazy eye) in children.

When It's Used

For Double Vision

• Acute cranial nerve palsies (while waiting for recovery)
• Large deviations not correctable with prisms
• Variable deviations
• Before surgery decision

For Amblyopia

• Patching the stronger eye
• Forces use of weaker eye
• Children only (critical period)

Types of Occlusion

Patch

• Adhesive eye patch
• Worn over one eye
• Simple and effective

Frosted Lens

• Glasses with one lens frosted
• Less obvious than patch
• Blur eliminates double vision

Bangerter Foil

• Translucent filter on glasses
• Graded levels of blur
• Can reduce rather than eliminate double vision

Pirate Patch

• Cloth patch on strap
• Reusable
• More comfortable for some

Considerations

Choosing Which Eye

• Usually patch the deviated eye
• May alternate
• Doctor will advise

Driving

• Check local laws
• Usually okay with one eye if adapted
• No depth perception with one eye patched

Adjustment Period

• Takes time to adapt
• Reduced peripheral vision
• No depth perception

Duration

For Acute Palsies

• Temporary until recovery
• Or until surgery
• May transition to prisms

Long-Term

• Some people use indefinitely
• If surgery not desired or not possible