With so much to focus on as a parent, it’s easy to take your child’s vision for granted. We usually assume our kids’ vision as long as they aren’t complaining or having obvious difficulties.
Then, they enter preschool or Kindergarten and begin having trouble seeing the board at school or telling the difference between letters of the alphabet. Your child’s teacher might report on your child squinting, rubbing their eyes, or seeming easily distracted.
Of course, you will need to make an appointment with your optometrist or a pediatric ophthalmologist. But this is when you should be aware of a vision condition affecting the eyesight of around 3% of all children — amblyopia.
Is Amblyopia the Same as Lazy Eye?
My oldest son Sawyer has been wearing corrective eyewear since the age of 18 months. It wasn’t until he was around 4 years old that he was diagnosed with amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye.” According to Medical News Today,
“Lazy eye is also known as amblyopia. Lazy eye is an early childhood condition where a child’s eyesight in one eye does not develop as it should. The problem is usually in just one eye, but can sometimes affect both of them.
“When a patient has amblyopia the brain focuses on one eye more than the other, virtually ignoring the lazy eye. If that eye is not stimulated properly the visual brain cells do not mature normally. In the USA and UK amblyopia affects approximately 2% to 3% of all children. It is the most common cause of partial or total blindness in one eye (monocular blindness) in the USA.”
Honestly, we weren’t surprised by our child’s amblyopia diagnosis given his regular vision screenings and need for corrective lenses since toddlerhood. We didn’t have to wonder about the cause of lazy eye either since we have a family history; both his father and myself having amblyopia. But we weren’t prepared for the challenge of tackling lazy eye treatments with our preschooler.
Treating Amblyopia: How Does Patching Work?
Sawyer’s pediatric ophthalmologist prescribed eye patching, one of the most common vision therapies for treating lazy eye. We were instructed to have our child wear an eyepatch over his stronger eye for two hours each day. When the dominant eye (the good eye) is covered with an eye patch, the brain is forces to rely on the uncovered weaker eye (misaligned eye) which strengthens and retrains the eye muscles and corrects eye alignment over time.
How long to use the eye patch depends on the severity of the child’s amblyopia which will be determined by your child’s optometrist or ophthalmologist. We were grateful to only have to patch for two hours per day. When I was a young child, my eye doctor prescribed eye patching for the entire school day. I remember my mom clipping an awkward black plastic eyepatch onto one of my glasses lenses each morning, right before putting me on the schoolbus. And, I also remember taking that ugly and embarrassing patch off as soon as the bus pulled out mom’s sight.
I know my mom isn’t the only parent or caregiver to have struggled with lazy eye treatments for their child. Not only does eye patching make a kid look and feel “different” from peers, but it can also cause uncomfortable physical side effects like headaches and fatigue.
This Kids Eye Patch for Lazy Eye tutorial contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.
So, when I learned Sawyer needed to wear an eye patch, I set out on a mission to make a homemade eye patch that was cool and more comfortable; one he wouldn’t mind wearing that might even be fun to wear! Here is what I came up with and how to make your own felt eye patch for your child…
How to Make an Eye Patch for Your Child
With just some basic sewing skills (either sewing machine or by hand), you can sew a simple custom eye patch using felt and fabric that slides right onto your child’s eyeglasses. The best part: you can choose fabric pattern according to your child’s interests or even take them shopping to pick out their own!
One you’ve chosen your felt and fabric, your child can help create the paper template. Have your child hold a piece of paper over their eye (the one that needs patching) allowing it to curve back to their ear. Then, with the eyeglasses positioned over the paper, trace the eyeglasses leaving about 1/2-inch border.
Cut the shape out of the paper, and then use this paper template to cut two pieces from felt and one from fabric.
Trim the fabric piece about 1/4-inch smaller than the felt pieces, then place it on top of one felt piece (right-side up) and sew around the edges.
Fold the fabric-and-felt piece in half where the eyeglasses hinge would be (according to the photo above), then sew about 1/4-inch in across each corner. Repeat with the other piece of felt.
Finally, sandwich the two pieces together with sewn-corners together, inside the sandwich, and then sew along the top and bottom of the pieces, leaving the ends open to slide onto the eyeglasses arm and lens.
How to Wear Eye Patch
This felt eye patch is made to slide right onto the arm and lens of your child’s eyeglasses with the corner pleats allowing it to curve at the eyeglasses’ hinge. Plus, the way it slides onto the glasses makes it harder for young children to remove and nearly impossible for them to lose altogether. Follow the guidelines of your doctor or optometrist in regards to how long to wear the eye patch.
Now, does this look like a kid who has confidence issues from eye patching? Not at all!
Now, Make Your Own Kids Eye Patch for Lazy Eye…
Kids Eye Patch for Lazy Eye
Tools
- sewing machine or hand-sewing needle
Materials
- 1 sheets 8.5x11" copy paper
- 1 washable marker
- 9x12" felt
- ¼ yard fabric (small prints work best)
- 1 spool sewing thread (for sewing machine or hand-sewing)
Steps
- With the child wearing their eyeglasses and a piece of paper carefully positioned behind the affected lens and temple, (from nose to ear), use a marker to trace a simplified patch shape around the lens and temple (arm).
- Cut on the traced line and use this shape as a template by pinning it onto felt and cutting around it. Repeat to cut one more out of felt and one out of fabric.
- Trim about 1/4-inch off the edges of the fabric shape so it is slightly smaller than the felt shapes.
- Place the fabric shape right-side-up onto one of the felt shapes and stitch along the edges using a zigzag stitch or blanket stitch.
- Fold the fabric/felt shape at the approximate location of the eyeglass hinge (fabric-side inside fold) and then sew across each corner about 1/4-inch in. Repeat with the other felt shape.
- Position the fabric/felt shape on top of the felt shape with all sewn-corners inside the sandwiched shapes, and straight-stitch 1/4-inch in along the top and bottom edges.
- Slide the eye patch onto the temple and lens of the eyeglasses.
Notes
Kids Eye Patch Tips and Tricks
A couple of tips to help ensure your child will actually want to wear their new homemade eye patch...- Choose a fabric print in your child's favorite theme (e.g., trucks, dinosaurs, Disney) or let your child choose their fabric themselves.
- Make several eye patches at once while you've got the supplies out and you're in the groove; you'll want backups in case any get misplaced.
- Make various eye patches in different fabric patterns/colors to give your child a choice and feeling of empowerment.
- Use fabric scraps to sew a small eye patch onto your child's favorite doll or stuffed animal.
Like this Kids Eye Patch Tutorial? Save & Share It!
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No Time to Make Your Own? Find Kids Eye Patches on Amazon:
See Worthy Snacks Adhesive Eye Patches (48/box)Astropic 2Pcs Eye Patches for Kids GlassesOpthopatch Kids Eye Patches (30/box + 10 Bonus + 3 Reward Chart Posters)eZAKKA Eye Patches for Kids (purple + pink)The Patch by Justina Chen HeadleyOrtopad Eye Patches for Boys (50/box)Patch Kid Eye Patches for Kids (50/box)Daisy’s Patch by Stephanie JonesHIDE&SEE Kids Eye Patches in Unicorn (50/bag)Cute Eye Patch Cat T-Shirt
Helpful Resources on Children’s Eye Patching for Lazy Eye:
- Less Eye Patch Time OK for Lazy Eye (WebMD)
- Using an Eye Patch for Amblyopia or “Lazy Eye” (SightMD)
More Parenting Tips from B-Inspired Mama:
- When Your Child Needs Glasses — Tricks from a Seasoned Mom
- Learning About Kids Vision Care and Charitable Giving
- Infantile Acne, Asthma, and Lazy Eye Never Looked So Good!
- 5 Simple but FUN Ways to Ensure Healthy Kids
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Sherri says
Thank you! My daughter is finishing up eye patching but I didn’t want to buy more eye patches. Plus, she hates the adhesive ones. This was super quick to make, and she loves it.
Nimesh says
Thanks it was very helpful but still to create my own can you please share video for reference.
Krissy of B-Inspired Mama says
I’m sorry; I don’t have a video and made these years ago when my son was just a little guy. Good luck!
Tiffa y says
I want to say how much I appreciated this article. My son has to be patched for 4 hours a day. And he hated the only one i could find in town. I let him pick a bunch of fabric yesterday. He loves his new patches and is way more comfortable now. Thank you!
Krissy of B-Inspired Mama says
Yay! I’m so so glad this helped you and your son! Thanks for the positive feedback.
Cris says
God bless you! Thanks a lot for such a great idea. I’m already doing one for my little one. Kisses from Spain!
Krissy of B-Inspired Mama says
Oh, yay! So glad it helps. Thanks for the positive feedback.
Jamie says
Thank you for this pattern! I found it on a Pinterest and immediately made one for my son! He only needs the patch a little every day at this point, but I can already tell this patch is going to be such an improvement! And I LOVE that I can use fabric scraps from other projects to personalize it for him! THANK YOU!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Oh, this makes me SO happy to hear it will help you and your son get through patching (even if almost done – hopefully!) a bit better. Thank you for sharing with me!
Annette says
Thanks so much for this EASY pattern!! I’ve made one already and now I want to make others to match all her outfits 🙂
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Oh it makes my day when I hear that this was helpful for another mama!
Brittney Bodine says
Thank you SO MUCH!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
You’re so welcome! Glad to be of help.
Babrenar says
Wow this is really great am going to try it out
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Hope it helps!
Brooke says
I know its been a while since you posted this but I must ask, did you have any issues with his glasses slipping down and him being able to find some “peek a boo” spots?? I asked my daughter’s eye doc about making her one but that was his concern is that her glasses would slip down and she would be able to see around it. just thought I would ask before I get the stuff to make. thanks!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
My son was (and still is) notorious for having his glasses at the end of his nose. But the patch is big enough around the glasses that it didn’t seem to be a problem for him at the time. I can’t promise, though, I guess.
Shannon says
Thank you so much for sharing this!! My 6 year old has a lazy eye…had surgery a couple years ago and now we have to patch again for 2 hours a day! Its such a challenge…even getting him to keep his glasses on is a challenge…Im going to make this and hope it helps…he loves the pictures! I will keep you posted!!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Oh – this just made my day! I hope it helps him. Let me know if you have a questions!
ali says
JUST WHAT I NEEDED THANK YOU
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Missy says
Thanks Krissy for a wonderful idea! My daughter likes this so much better than the adhesive patches
Robin says
Thank you for sharing your tutorial. With just some scraps around the house, I was able to make something my daughter loves…well, as much as you can love something you’d rather not wear.
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Oh, I’m so glad it helped, Robin!
Cris says
I love this idea. It seems simple enough… but I am not crafty at all. I will do my best! Thanks for the tutorial!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
It’s not hard at all. I hope it helps! 🙂
Tara says
I just used your tutorial to make a patch for my son. Thank you!!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Oh, I’m so glad that it’s helping others!!
Amber says
I have a 4 month that doesn’t wear glasses yet but need to patch 2 hours a day, he gets a rash from sticky patch. Is there a way of adapting this for no glasses?
Gyen says
Maybe stitch some soft elastic to the ends like a headband? I did that for the fake patch I made my three year old. She wanted to match her brother, but her eyesight is fine! Since she doesn’t have glasses, we used elastic to hold it on.
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Yes, I would agree with Gyen, to add some soft elastic to it that could go around his head. Good luck, Mama!
Tina says
I just want to thank you so very very much for this post!!! My 6 year old was diagnosed with Amblyopia over a year ago. Your page was sent to me by a friend a few months later (sometime last summer) when the doctor said we had to patch. I immediately began making your patches and they have been a huge success. Not only is my daughter more compliant with patching because she gets to pick which patterns she likes, they are so cheap and easy to make that we always have several kicking around (in the car, in my purse, in her backpack etc etc). I have also been stopped in public on a few occasions by moms fed up with bandage patches and pirate patches asking how to make them.
We had a follow up appointment last week and the doctor explained to me that my daughter’s eye has improved from a .575 to a .475 (I don’t know what the numbers mean myself, but it is a huge improvement). She now gets a new prescription and the doctor figures 3-6 more months and we will be patch free. I truly do owe thanks to you. If it weren’t for these patches, I don’t think this would have been as easy as it has been, so THANK YOU! 🙂
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
Oh my gosh – this just about brought tears to my eyes! This was just my little way to make things easier for my kiddo and I. I never could have imagined that i could help others, but I’m thrilled! I’m so glad to hear that it’s helping you and your daughter. We only ended up having to patch for about 8 months, so they helped us, too. I hope you’re patch-free soon! Thanks so much for stopping in and supporting me. 🙂
Deborah Gilbert says
hi, my daughter was just diagnosed with amblyopia today. No surprise, I have it and just like you I always took my horrid black patch off as soon as I could (and my right eye is terrible because of it). So, my almost 3 year old needs a patch and I might just have to make her one like this. Thanks for the tutorial.
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
You’re welcome. I hope it helps your little one as much as it did mine! We no longer need to patch after about 9 months of it. Good luck, Mama!
jenney says
I am so going to make one of these for my four and a half year old. He wants to look like a pirate, so I think I’ll just use black fabric but make a cute (?) skull and crossbones out of felt to go on top. He absolutely HATES wearing a patch because then he can’t see, so I’m hoping to make it more fun for him. Thanks for the directions!
Deb says
My 3 yr old has to patch. She has been for at least 6 months, just had eye surgery on both eyes (I thought we were done patching, but not yet.) She started hating the sticky patch just before her surgery so I don’t want to go back. A quick question how big of space do you leave for the nose piece so that it still seals on the top?? I might just have to try and mess up a few times, i’m not a big sewer… Did you ever try a flannel fabric against the eye? Or is there different types of felt. Thanks
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
So sorry you and your little one have to go through this! I hope a handmade patch helps her. I used felt because it has a bit more structure than flannel. The texture didn’t seem to bother my little guy. And the felt was soft enough to just sort of sit up against the nose piece. I didn’t cut out any special area for it. I hope this helps. If need any more help feel free to use my contact form (where it says contact in the top menu bar) to email me directly. Good luck, Mama!
Ana says
Hi, found this pattern through Pinterest – my daughter has the same problem, and hates the sticky patch – just made one, following your tutorial, and she loved. Thanks you so much! 🙂
Kathleen Waltman says
awesome!! Quick ?
Do you think it matters if the patch sits on top of the lens or against the skin?? Great Idea! you ROCK :0)
~Nikki Pullen says
I LOVE IT!!! You have now inspired me to make a new one for my son : )
Anonymous says
I just read this & I'm going to try making my own patches. I suffer from double vision & extreme sensitivity to light in one eye & now have to wear a patch permanently. I started out wearing the adhesive ones which I really hated. I've now got a couple of leather ones which look nice but they're still pretty uncomfortable to wear all the time. A felt patch should let more air through- the worst thing about wearing a patch for me is never feeling fresh air around my eye & the constant hot, sticky feeling underneath. Plus I'll get a chance to try out a few of my own designs.
Lisa
Anonymous says
Wish somebody's made me one 50 years ago! Mine was beige plastic & sometimes just white gauze & tape. Oh yeah, & a pair of glasses with one side covered.
Krissy Sherman Bonning says
White gauze and tape?! That must have been so uncomfortable!
Joy Burkhart says
What a cutie! I'm so sorry that he has to go thru what I did as a child. My eyepatch was black on the inside and flesh colored outside, clipping to the inside of my glasses. (This was back in 1958-60)Like Natalie, I wish my mom had made something like this for me! Give Sawyer a big hug for me! 🙂
xoxo
Joy
Krissy Sherman Bonning says
Thanks for the warm words. Mine was a hard plastic one of course. Can't believe how unappealing they are for kids.
Alexa says
I'm totally sending this on to my adult friend in need of an eye patch!
Krissy Sherman Bonning says
Oh, great! Thanks, Alexa. I hope it helps.
Natalie says
Aw! This is adorable, and so is the little guy 🙂 I wish my mom were that clever when I was little and had to do the eye patch. My best friend's daughter does the patch, I'll pass this along to her.
Krissy Sherman Bonning says
Thanks, Natalie! I hope it helps your friends and her little one.
MaryAnne says
And thanks for linking up to Learning Laboratory!
MaryAnne says
This is brilliant! So much more fun than the regular eye patches!
I'm sure my kids will eventually inherit Mike and my nearsightedness as well as astigmatism, but if they're like us they'll luck out until they hit their teens…
Krissy Sherman Bonning says
Yeah, we weren't so lucky. It's like Sawyer is taking right after me!
Pam says
endmyopia.org