Does laser eye surgery fix lazy eyes?

If you or someone you know has a lazy eye, you might wonder,
“Can laser eye surgery fix it?”

The short answer is: not usually.

Laser eye surgery like LASIK or PRK is designed to correct problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These are refractive errors. A lazy eye, also called amblyopia, is something different. It’s caused by the way the brain and the eye work together—not by the shape of the eye.

Still, there are some cases where laser eye surgery can help support treatment for a lazy eye. Let’s take a closer look.

What is a lazy eye?

A lazy eye (amblyopia) is a condition where one eye doesn’t develop normal vision during childhood. The brain favors one eye and ignores the other, even if the eye itself is physically healthy.

This usually happens when:

• One eye has a stronger glasses prescription than the other
• One eye turns inward or outward (called strabismus)
• Something blocks vision in one eye (like a droopy eyelid or cataract)

If amblyopia isn’t treated early in life, the weaker eye may stay underdeveloped. This can lead to lifelong vision problems in that eye.

What does laser eye surgery do?

Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea. This corrects the way light enters your eye, helping it focus better.

It’s great for:

• Nearsightedness (myopia)
• Farsightedness (hyperopia)
• Astigmatism (blur from an uneven cornea)

If both eyes are healthy but need glasses, LASIK or PRK can help you see clearly without them. But if your vision problem is from amblyopia, laser surgery won’t fix the brain-eye connection that causes it.

So, can LASIK help at all?

Here’s where it gets interesting. Laser eye surgery doesn’t cure amblyopia—but it may be helpful in some cases.

For example:

• If you have unequal prescriptions between your eyes (anisometropia), laser surgery can help balance the eyes.
• If you have trouble wearing glasses or contacts, LASIK might improve comfort and motivation for further therapy.
• Some adults with amblyopia can still improve vision with the right support—even in later life.

So, while LASIK isn’t a direct treatment for lazy eye, it can support the bigger picture.

Who should consider laser eye surgery?

You might be a candidate if:

• Your amblyopia is mild to moderate
• Your eye is physically healthy (no scarring or disease)
• Your vision in the stronger eye is normal
• You’re over 18 and your prescription is stable

If you’re not sure, we can check your eyes and help you decide if laser surgery is an option.

Are there risks?

People with lazy eyes might have lower vision in one eye even after laser surgery. That’s why we do a full eye exam first, including a discussion about what you can expect from treatment.

What are other treatment options?

For children, lazy eye is often treated with:

• Eye patches
• Glasses
• Drops to blur the stronger eye
• Vision therapy

For adults, improvement is more difficult, but not impossible. Some new therapies combine vision training and technology to help the brain re-learn how to use both eyes.

The takeaway

Laser eye surgery does not cure lazy eye, but it may help in some cases. The key is understanding your specific vision problem and what kind of improvement is possible.

Your next step

Wondering if laser eye surgery could help your vision? Start with our quick suitability self-test. It’s free, fast, and personalized.

We’ll help you understand your options and whether LASIK might be part of your solution.