
Protect your child's vision! Consult an ophthalmologist if he/she has a crossed eye
13 July 2023
Strabismus (crossed eye) is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned with each other. In other words, one eye deviates in a different direction than the other.
Under normal conditions, the six muscles that control eye movement work together and direct both eyes in the same direction. If you have strabismus, these muscles have trouble controlling eye movement and cannot maintain normal eye alignment (position of the eyes).
Although strabismus occurs mostly in childhood, adults can also have strabismus. The most common cause of ocular misalignment in adults is stroke. Another cause is physical trauma. But there may also be an adult with childhood strabismus that was not treated at the time, or was treated and has recurred or worsened.
What are the symptoms of strabismus?
- Double vision
- Visual fatigue
- Torticollis
- Amblyopia or lazy eye
- Headaches
- Difficulty reading
- Eye strain
- Closing one eye when looking at distant objects or in bright light.
When do the symptoms of strabismus appear?
Strabismus usually appears in infants and young children, most often when the child is 3 years old.
It is normal for your newborn to have misaligned or deviated eyes from time to time. By the age of 3 or 4 months, your baby's eyes should be able to focus on small objects and should be straight and well aligned. A 6-month-old baby should be able to focus on objects both near and far.
The sudden onset of strabismus - especially with double vision - in an older child or adult could indicate a more serious neurological disorder.
How is strabismus treated?
There are several treatment options for strabismus. Your ophthalmologist will explain which options are best for your particular situation. Possible treatments include:
- Glasses or contact lenses.
- Prism lenses, which can deflect light entering the eye to alleviate double vision.
- Medications
- Vision rehabilitation
- Surgery
Request an appointment online or call us at 809-686-0268.