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Eye Care Basics
Strabismus (misalignment of the eyes)
Causes
Difficulty with eye muscle balance can cause one or both eyes to
turn in, out, up, or down. This condition typically appears in
young children prior to age seven, and may continue undetected
or uncorrected into later life.
Symptoms
The symptoms of strabismus may include:
- one or both eyes out of alignment as the person looks at or tries to focus
on an object
- double vision
- headaches and nausea when trying to focus
Diagnosis and Treatment
One common misperception of strabismus is that a child will outgrow
the condition. This is not true. In fact, without treatment, the
condition may worsen and cause other eye conditions, including amblyopia.
The American Optometric Association recommends a pediatric eye
exam before six months and again at age three. (If there is a family
history
of strabismus, your eye care professional may recommend a more frequent
examination schedule.) If detected early, strabismus can often be
corrected.
Treatment for misaligned eyes may include:
- eyeglasses
- prisms (a lens application that helps focus the light entering
the eye on the retina).
- vision therapy
- surgery
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