Here at Eyes to See, we specialize in treating children for various eye conditions, including strabismus. In this post, we want to help parents whose children have been diagnosed with strabismus to gain a deeper understanding of what it is, how it's diagnosed, and what we can do to treat it.
What is Strabismus?
Strabismus is a condition where the eyes are misaligned, with one eye turning in a different direction than the other. Usually, the muscles that control eye movements point both eyes in the same direction. In the case of strabismus, they cannot keep the eyes in their proper position because they have trouble controlling the movement of the eyes. Strabismus is primarily found in children, but adults may experience it too in the event of physical trauma, a stroke, or recurring or untreated childhood strabismus.
Types of Strabismus
Your eye doctor may categorize strabismus in a variety of ways such as by the direction the eye points (an eye pointing inward is esotropia and an eye pointing outward is exotropia, while an eye pointing upward is hypertropia and an eye pointing downward is hypotropia), whether it’s constant or intermittent, and whether it’s unilateral (only occurring in one eye) or alternating (sometimes occurring in one eye and other times in the other).
Causes of Strabismus
Strabismus is usually caused by issues with the brain’s control of the muscles that regulate eye movement. In other cases, the eye muscles themselves may have problems that cause strabismus.
What puts someone at Risk for Strabismus?
Factors that increase the likelihood of developing strabismus include:
A family history of strabismus
Uncorrected refractive errors
Poor vision in one eye
Hydrocephalus
Brain tumors
Stroke
Head injury
Down syndrome
Cerebral palsy
Graves’ Disease
Neurological issues
The Symptoms of Strabismus
Some symptoms you may notice in your child if they have strabismus are:
Complaints of double vision
Complaints of headache or eye strain
They have a hard time reading
They tilt or turn their head
They cover up or close one of their eyes when looking at things that are nearby
They close one of their eyes when looking at faraway objects
They close one of their eyes when they’re in a bright environment
How do Doctors Diagnose Strabismus?
All children over the age of 4 months who appear to have strabismus should visit a pediatric ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam. To learn more about what to expect from a comprehensive exam at our office, click here.
How is Strabismus Treated?
There are several treatment options for strabismus. You and your eye doctor can discuss which option(s) are best for your specific case. Treatments include:
Glasses or contact lenses: In the case of strabismus caused by a refractive error, corrective lenses may help the eyes to stay aligned. This is because, with corrective lenses, the eyes don’t need as much effort to focus.
Medications: Certain medications like ointment, eye drops, or injections can be used to weaken an overactive eye muscle.
Prism lenses: These special lenses can bend light as it enters the eye to alleviate double vision.
Patching: If you have strabismus and amblyopia, your eye doctor may suggest the use of eye patches, as improving eyesight may also improve the brain’s control of eye alignment.
Orthoptics: Orthoptics, a type of therapeutic eye exercise, may help with certain kinds of strabismus.
Strabismus Surgery: In strabismus surgery, the eye doctor will change the position or length of the eye muscles so the eyes are aligned.
Complications of Strabismus
Following diagnosis, it's imperative to get treatment for strabismus to ensure that no complications occur. If left untreated, strabismus may lead to amblyopia (lazy eye), blurred vision, headaches, eye strain, fatigue, double vision, or decreased three-dimensional vision.
Strabismus can also be a sign of more serious issues that may get overlooked if the strabismus is not diagnosed and followed.
Summary
To summarize, strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned properly. It is often caused by issues with the brain's control of eye muscles. There are many ways an eye doctor can categorize strabismus, which may be based on the direction the misaligned eye (or eyes) are pointing, the consistency of misalignment, and/or which eye (or eyes) are affected. Factors such as uncorrected refractive errors, stroke, Down Syndrome, or a family history of strabismus may increase an individual’s chances of developing it. Double vision, headaches, eye strain, tilting or turning the head, and closing or covering just one eye in various visually demanding situations may be symptoms of strabismus. Children older than four months who appear to have strabismus should see a pediatric ophthalmologist promptly to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment. There are many ways strabismus can be treated, including but not limited to eyeglasses, orthoptics, medication, and surgery. You can talk with your eye doctor following diagnosis to determine which treatment option is best for your unique situation. If you or your child is diagnosed with strabismus, it is imperative to pursue treatment in order to avoid further complications.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you found this post informative. We understand it can be concerning to hear that there may be issues with your child’s eyes, and we want to help. If you suspect that your child may have strabismus, give us a call at 616-796-9995, and we’ll gladly assist you with setting up an appointment.
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