Strabismus

Medical conditions of all kinds may affect the overall quality of your vision and the health of your eyes. This goes for patients of all ages, which is why it is so important to schedule an eye apointment starting at an early age so any issues can be rectified early and be treated as needed.

One particular condition that can affect patients of all ages is strabismus. You may know this by another name including:

Lazy eye
Cross eye
Walleye

There are a number of misunderstandings and misconceptions about this condition. So we need to consider strabismus and what it entails so that you have the facts to make well‐informed decisions about your eye health.

About Strabismus

Strabismus generally refers to the inability for both eyes to maintain alignment with one another. If a person suffers from strabismus, his or her eyes may seem turned inward or turned outward. Simply stated, there seems to be imbalanced with regard to the position of both eyes and the direction in which they point.

Types of Strabismus

There are two kinds of strabismus:

Large‐angle strabismus ‐ This form of strabismus refers to very apparent misalignment of the eyes
Small‐angle strabismus ‐ This form of strabismus refers to very minor and sometimes unapparent misalignment of the eyes

How common is strabismus?

It is estimated that roughly 4 percent of the population of the United States suffers from some form of strabismus. It is ideal for strabismus to be treated as soon as possible in order too ensure good vision in adult life and reduce chance of being self‐conscious around others.

Signs and Symptoms of Strabismus

The most notable sign of strabismus is misalignment of a person's eyes, particularly when he or she looks up, down, to the sides, or at an angle. People with small‐angle strabismus may suffer from headaches and eyestrain from the minor misalignment, though these symptoms are not common when a person suffers from large-angle strabismus.

The Causes of Strabismus

The most common cause of strabismus is the inability of a person to control the muscles that help sync eye movement. This may be a physical, anatomical, or neurological issue. It could even be a combination of all three. Our optometrists will determine the root cause of the issue during your appoinment.

It should be noted that strabismus is genetic. So, if there is a family history of condition, it is likely that a child will experience strabismus to some degree.

Different Treatment Options for Strabismus

There are four potential treatments to consider for strabismus:

Corrective lenses ‐ If the instance of strabismus is related to nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmastism, corrective lenses may be prescribed to address the issue.
Eye medication ‐ In some cases, patients will be given eye drops to weaken the stronger eye, which helps train the weaker eye and reduces misalignment.
Eye patches ‐ Like the use of eye medication, the eye patch is worn over the stronger eye in order to strengthen the weaker eye.
Surgery for strabismus ‐ Sometimes surgery on the eye muscles is the best option to consider for addressing strabismus.

Learn More About Advanced Eye Care

For more information about addressing various vision issues, it's important that you schedule an apointment with our eye care experts. Our staff looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you make wise decisions about your vision and overall eye health.