This can cause visual distortions, includingdouble visionand a loss of depth perception.
Although strabismus usually occurs during infancy or early childhood, adults can get strabismus as well.
Treatment of strabismus includes prescription eyeglasses, vision therapy, Botox injections, and surgery.
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Left untreated, strabismus can lead to permanently reduced vision in one eye, called amblyopia.
This article describes the symptoms and causes of strabismus, including the various options for treatment.
Symptoms and Types of Strabismus
Strabismus can affect one eye or both eyes.
The misalignment may be constant or intermittent and worsen during periods of fatigue or illness.
These are categorized as:
Can people with strabismus see straight?
Instead, it sees only the image from the straight or better-seeing eye.
This can lead toamblyopia(also known as “lazy eye”) and permanent reduction of vision.
Adults who develop strabismus after childhood often have double vision.
What Is the Main Cause of Strabismus?
At its heart, strabismus is related to the abnormal development of the binocular system of the brain.
Cases that develop during infancy, childhood, and later life tend not to improve without treatment.
Cause of Esotropia
Esotropia often develops as a result ofhyperopia(farsightedness).
In such cases, the non-dominant eye may start to drift outward.
These include:
What Is Pseudo-Strabismus?
Pseudo-strabismusis a false form of strabismus seen in young children of certain ethnicities.
This can give the appearance of crossed eyes that usually go away once the childs facial features mature.
Can You Fix Strabismus?
Strabismus can be treated in a variety of ways.
Your eye specialist, typically anophthalmologist, will be able to determine the best treatment plan for you.
To prevent the convergence of the eyes while reading or focusing up close, bifocal lenses may be prescribed.
Prism lensesare another pop in of lens that bends light in a particular direction.
By changing how light enters the eyes, images can be “fused” to relieve double vision.
There are also specific eye exercises that can help strengthen the eye muscles.
Botox temporarily blocks nerve impulses, causing the muscle to become paralyzed.
A series of injections is typically needed, particularly in severe cases.
Surgery
Eye muscle surgery for strabismusis very successful in most cases.
Adjustable sutures can fine-tune the eye muscle correction after surgery.
The treatment of strabismus includes corrective eyeglasses, vision therapy, Botox injections, or surgery.
2017;2017(3):CD006499.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006499.pub4
Boyd, Kierstan.
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
