Strabismus

Strabismus (crossed eyes) is a disorder that causes one eye to be misaligned with the other when focusing.

Strabismus is caused by a lack of coordination between the eyes. As a result, the eyes look in different directions and do not focus at the same time on a single point.

In most cases of strabismus in children, the cause is unknown. In more than half of these cases, the problem is present at or shortly after birth (congenital strabismus).

In children, when the two eyes fail to focus on the same image, the brain may learn to ignore the input from one eye. If this is allowed to continue, the eye that the brain ignores will never see well. This loss of vision is called amblyopia, and it is frequently associated with strabismus.

Signs and Symptoms

The primary sign of strabismus is an eye that is not directed straight. Sometimes a youngster will squint with one eye in bright sunlight. Symptoms of faulty depth perception may also be noticed.

Adults who acquire strabismus will usually have double vision.

Detection and Diagnosis

Strabismus is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam. Testing for strabismus, with special emphasis on how the eyes focus and move.

Treatment

Treatment goals for strabismus are to preserve vision, to straighten the eyes, and to restore binocular vision. People with strabismus have several treatment options available to improve eye alignment and coordination. They include:

• eyeglasses or contact lenses
• prism lenses
• vision therapy
• eye muscle surgery

If detected and treated early, strabismus can often be corrected with excellent results.