Strabismus

What is strabismus?

Strabismus, also known as hypertropia, is a misaligned eye, it is an eye that doesn’t point straight. The eye can be crossed in towards the nose (esotropia), wandering out (exotropia), or even vertically misaligned. Strabismus is not a cosmetic issue, but rather a medical disorder. Strabismus is also commonly known as crossed eye, patients with this condition have difficulties with controlling the movement of the eye and typically cannot keep normal ocular alignment. This misalignment occurs especially in newborn babies when they are tired out however they should typically outgrow this condition within three months of being born. Those with strabismus can not focus on the same object with both eyes, meaning they both focus on different objects, meaning that they may see double vision or have blurry vision.

What causes strabismus?

Strabismus is generally caused by problems with the eye muscles, the brain muscles that control eye movements, or the nerves that send information to the muscles. There can be many different reasons why Strabismus can develop including eye injuries and some usual health conditions. Those who have siblings or parents with Strabismus are also more likely to develop it, family history can also be a risk factor. Those who suffer from a significant amount of uncorrected farsightedness are also at risk of developing Strabismus due to the extra focusing they must do in order to keep objects clear and not blurry. Some medical conditions such as down syndrome, cerebral palsy or even those who have gone through a stroke or even head injury can also cause strabismus. The cause of strabismus can vary, which is why it is important to get it checked out as soon as it is noticed in newborns and children.

How long does it take for glasses to correct strabismus?

Strabismus is mainly treated with glasses. In most cases, there is usually a follow-up after 6 weeks in children. However, it is important to note that glasses can only treat mild cases of strabismus. Strabismus can also be treated with the use of an eye patch for children with amblyopia. The patch helps the weaker eye become stronger, forcing it to use the muscles and help align the eyes, this patch is usually used for some time between 4 weeks, and a few months depending on the condition. Surgery on the eye muscles is the most compelling approach to dealing with Strabismus, even though it can take up to more than one surgery, it is the only way currently to boost vision and coordinate the eyes. The most important factor in treating strabismus is to handle the situation as soon as it is noticed. Usually, the sooner it is treated in younger children the higher the chances of correcting strabismus.