Strabismus is when both eyes do not look at the same point at the same time because the eye muscles do not work together well to control the eye movement. Often time’s strabismus begins in early childhood and appears as though the child is “cross-eyed.”
What causes strabismus?
Although childhood strabismus does not have any known cause, it tends to run in the family. Adults may develop strabismus due to eye or blood vessel damage, an eye or brain tumor, Graves’ disease, stroke or various muscles or nerve disorders.
What are the symptoms?
Squinting, closing the eye in bright sunlight, tilting or turning the head to look at an object
is possible signs of strabismus. Children, who complain about their eyes being tired, blurred or double vision or light sensitivity should be evaluated by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for possible strabismus.How is strabismus treated?
Glasses, patching, medicines and surgery are the most common treatments for strabismus. Glasses can correct strabismus if the eyes alignment is just slightly off. Sometimes, eye exercises may be helpful.
In most severe cases, surgery is the only alternative. The doctor changes the length or position of the muscles around the eye to help it align better.
Will a child with strabismus outgrow it?
Normally a child will not outgrow this condition. If left uncorrected, strabismus can cause permanent vision problems in the form of a lazy eye. This is because the child is not using one eye due to misalignment.
Newborn’s eyes may at first seem misaligned; however, they should become more aligned by the age of six months. Pseudo-strabismus is when there is the appearance of strabismus due to the physical characteristics of the newborn, e.g. wide bridge of the nose.
Risk factors for children:
- Family history of strabismus
- Visual difficulties such as farsightedness
- Muscle and/or nerve disorders (e.g. cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis)
- Down syndrome
- Tumor of the brain or eye
- Premature birth, low birth weight, birth injury
- Head injury
- Infections, such as meningitis or measles
- Blurred vision at a distance
- Double vision
- Dislike or avoidance of close work
- Short attention span for the child’s age
- Turning or tilting the head to use one eye only, or closing or covering one eye.
- Placing the head close to the book or desk when reading or writing.
- Excessive blinking or rubbing the eyes
- Losing place while reading, or using a finger as a guide
- Trouble finishing timed written assignments
- Difficulty remembering what was read
- Omitting or repeating words, or confusing similar words
- Persistent reversal of words or letters (after second grade)
- Difficulty remembering, identifying or reproducing shapes
- Difficulty with sequential concepts
- Poor eye-hand coordination
- Evidence of developmental immaturity
- Headaches, nausea and dizziness
- Burning or itchy eyes
- Color blindness, especially in situations where learning materials are color-based.
