STRABISMUS
Strabismus is an eye condition that involves any misalignment of the eyes.
- In strabismus, the eyes do not align simultaneously when looking at an object under normal condition.
- If an individual has strabismus, one eye looks directly at the object that is being viewed, while the other eyes may look in or out, or turn up or down.
- The misalignment can occur at all times (constant) or only sometimes (intermittent), such as during stressful situations or illness.
- Strabismus affects both children and adults.
- Some people are born with the condition and it can progress into their adult years.
- Eye misalignment can result in a ‘lazy eye’ (amblyopia) or loss of depth perception if present during a large part of childhood.
- Strabismus with an onset during adulthood can result in double vision and may suggest the presence of a serious underlying health condition
- There are many types of strabismus and they are most commonly described by the direction of the eye misalignment
- Common types are esotropia, hypertropia, and exotropia.
- Esotropia is an inward turning of the eye. It is also called crossed eye
- Hypertropia is used to describe vertical misalignment, where the abnormal eye is higher than the normal eye.
- In exotropia is an outward turning of the eye
- Strabismus can also be unilateral (affecting the same eyes) or maybe alternating (the two eyes may take turn being misaligned).
CAUSES
- Muscle dysfunction
- Trauma
- Infections
- Farsightedness
- Genetics
- Problems in the brain
- Stroke or vascular problem in adults
Factors associated with an increased risk of lazy eye include:
- Premature birth
- A family history of strabismus
- Developmental disabilities such as down syndrome, cerebral palsy
SYMPTOMS
- Misalignment of the eyes
- Double vision
- Eye strain
- Headaches
- Uncoordinated eye movement
- Inability to read comfortably
- Fatigue when reading
- Unstable vision
- An emotional disorder such as anxiety, emotional distress
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
DIAGNOSIS
Strabismus can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam.
The doctor will review the medical history of the patient and may ask questions about symptoms.
Visual acuity test is carried out determine changes in vision and clarity of sight at both short and long distance. This means that a measure of visual acuity will be used to assess how much vision is being affected. Normal visual acuity is 20/20
Retinal exam to observe the physical structure of the eye to rule out any eye disease that may be contributing to your condition
Refraction used to determine the degree of refractive error, this is useful in determining the appropriate lens power needed to compensate for such refractive error
Alignment and focusing testing to assess movement, focus and how well the eyes work together. This testing looks for problems that make it hard for you to use both eyes simultaneously.
TREATMENT
Various treatment options exist to improve eye alignment and coordination. The condition is usually treated with a combination of eyeglasses, vision therapy and surgery depending on the underlying factor for the misalignment.
Early treatment of strabismus in children may reduce the chance of developing lazy eye and depth perception problems.
Eyeglasses or contact lenses may be the only treatment needed for some patients
Vision therapy such as eye exercises can help improve eye coordination and eye focusing. It trains the eyes and brain to work more effectively together.
Eye muscle surgery can change the position and length of one or more muscles around the eye so they appear straight.