4 Reasons That People Wear Eye Patches

Eye patches are sometimes overlooked as an important medical supply. More commonly thought of a part of pirate attire for a play or a costume party, the eye patch has a number of medical uses. If you have any of these conditions, your doctor is likely to recommend you look into wearing cloth eye patches or invest in some of the disposable eye patches currently on the market.

The Treatment of Amblyopia

Amblyopia is a condition that’s sometimes referred to as Lazy Eye Syndrome. Because of some failure in the communication between the brain and the eyes, one eye experiences decreased visual acuity while the other appears normal. Eye patches can be used to cover fully functional eyes and help to retrain the brain so that the weaker eye begins to work better.

Protection After Eye Surgery

As with any type of invasive procedure proper bandaging and protection may be needed after certain types of eye surgery. It’s not unusual to apply bandaging over the affected eye and then cover the bandages using some sort of eye patch. Eye patches in this application serve a cosmetic as well as a practical function. While adding a little more protection to the area, the patch helps the individual to be less self-conscious about his or her appearance. In fact, a decorative eye patch in this instance may even be fun to wear.

Compensate for Diplopia

Also known as double vision, diplopia can be a symptom of extra-ocular muscle palsy. When present, the individual effectively sees two of the same object. They often seem to be two images that are stacked on one another, although one seems to be slightly off to one side. This results in dizziness, a sense of disorientation, and nausea. By covering one of the eyes, the double image often does away and it’s easier to manage day to day tasks. The patient will also notice that the dizziness and other effects also fade.

Covering an Empty Eye Socket

For centuries, eye patches have been used to cover empty eye sockets. When an eye was lost due to injury or a serious health condition, covering the socket was thought to prevent dirt and other residue from entering the socket. Today, many people prefer to invest in prosthetics that can be inserted into the socket and provide the appearance of a real eye. Even so, eye patches maybe used instead, or at least worn while a prosthetic is being prepared. There are other uses of eye patches that may be temporary or long-term. Your medical professional can help you understand if a patch would be helpful in your situation. You can also discuss the merits associate with single use patches and eye patches intended to be worn repeatedly. Together, the two of you can settle on a solution that works best in your case.