What is a Medical Eye Patch?
Medical eye patches are designed to address multiple types of vision problems, including for children and adults. Worn for multiple days at a time, the patch is composed of a fabric or plastic material that fits closely around one socket to fully block its field of vision. Part of occlusion therapy, as well as recovery after an eye injury or surgery, medical eye patches attach via adhesive, ideal for wearing below a pair of glasses; are placed over the eye with a headband; or are slipped over one lens on a pair of glasses.
Doctors recommend using an eye patch to:
- Protect the eye following surgery to prevent dust and debris from entering the socket and to limit how frequently the patient touches or rubs their eye.
- Correct a lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, in which the eye shifts or drifts in one direction. With this condition more common in children, covering one eye helps strengthen the “lazy” eye, refine its vision mechanisms and reduce risks for depth perception and field of vision issues later in life.
- Correct a squint, also known as strabismus, or when the eyes are misaligned.
- Address and reduce double vision.
- Heal the area following an injury.
Benefits of Using a Medical Eye Patch
Based on the existing condition, wearing a medical eye patch for a period of time can:
- Help improve a child’s visual coordination and strengthen their vision long term.
- Can assist with reducing nausea and headaches related to vision concerns.
Additionally, outfitting a child with a corrective medical eye patch can limit more invasive treatments down the line. In these cases, the patch doesn’t need to be worn all day: Just six hours as a child engages in an activity involving visual coordination may be sufficient.
How To Pick the Best Eye Patch for Medical Purposes
Patching therapy is simple and comes in many style varieties. Vitality Medical offers cloth and vinyl eye patches, as well as adhesive bandages that custom fit the perimeter of the eye.
Common medical eye patches for adults are made of cloth for comfort and breathability and include an elastic headband that comfortably stretches around any head size. Having an elastic band option makes it easy to take the patch on and off when the doctor prescribes eye drops and is more convenient for intermittent two-hour therapy plans versus the maximum six-hour treatment. The eye bandage with adhesive backing may also be used for this reason, since it adheres directly to the skin and shapes around the eye.
The majority of the eye patches are universal sized, but some brands offer adult and junior sizes, particularly for varieties that cover the entire eye.
Conditions Treated by Wearing a Medical Eye Patch
- Amblyopia/lazy eye
- Strabismus/crossed eyes
- Diplopia/double vision
- Eye removal
- Recovery from cataract surgery
Eye Patch With Headband
- Reusable
- Dark cloth blocks out light
- Breathable material
- Removes as often as needed
- Secures easily with an elastic band
- Elastic band stretches for a universal fit
- Cloth maintains a concave shape to minimize pressure
Eye Patch Design Advantages
Eye Bandage
- Disposable
- Ideal for eyeglass wearers
- Less surface area may be more comfortable
- Nude bandage color is less noticeable
- Bandage adhesive keeps it in place
- Less coverage area than a typical eye patch
- Direct application may help the child comply with the treatment plan
An example is the McKesson Convex Eye Patch. It protects the eye using a soft cloth material with a headband. Thise black eye patch keeps out light, but and the convex, beveled pattern maintains a concave shape around the eye. This is helpful for individuals who feel more comfortable with morewant more space for their eye or wish to have their eyelashes to move freely without irritation. The bevel also prevents reduces eye pressure for individuals who experience pressure to patches that compared to designs that lie flat, particularly with eye bandages that have less surface area..
The 3M Nexcare Opticlude comes in adult- and junior sizesr-size orthoptic eye patches. 3M uses a gentle adhesive that will secures nicely. The bandage is hypoallergenic, so it will conform, and stick well with less chance of skin irritation. The shape narrows at the bridge of the nose and over the eye, with aand adds more larger surface area towards the ear. With nNo headband meansnd, there is no fuss, and there's less for a child to tamper with or remove. The adhesive also creates coverage to block visionprovides enough coverage to block the wearer’s vision during therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can an eye bandage be applied over an eyeglass lens?
Yes. If the child prefers the patch over the eyeglass, make sure to purchase a bigger size to block out peripheral vision.
How can I make my eyepatch more comfortable?
When therapy is going to extend for months, it’s important to make it comfortable. One suggestion is that if the headband feels tight, add a hook-and-loop attachment for a customized, adjustable fit.
Can you drive with an eye patch?
Yes. It is acceptable to wear an eye patch while operating a vehicle.
Can overuse of an eye patch affect the dominant eye?
Overuse can affect the dominant eye and therefore it is recommended to wear the eye patch for the doctor-prescribed duration.
Are there any tips for helping children wear eye patches?
Wearing the patch at school can prove to be difficult due to bullying or complying with therapy time. As a tip, relegate therapy to after school hours and provide enjoyable activities to distract your child for the duration of a session, such as playing a video game or watching a movie.
Rsources and Footnotes
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