Q: What is strabismus?
Strabismus is a deviation of the eyes. The term is used to
describe eyes that are not straight or properly aligned.
Q: What causes the misalignment?
The misalignment results from the failure of the eye muscles
to work together. One eye, or sometimes both, may turn in (crossed eyes), turn
out (wall eyes), turn up or turn down. Sometimes more than one of the 'turns'
are present.
Q: When strabismus is present, will the eyes always look
misaligned?
The deviation may be constant or it may come and go. In
young children strabismus may vary not only from day-to-day, but during the
course of a day.
Q: My infant's eyes roll all over. Should I be concerned?
At birth, an infant's eyes cannot always focus directly on
objects. They may appear to move quite independently at first, sometimes
crossing, and sometimes wandering outward. But by the age of three to four
months, an infant's eyes should have the ability to focus on small objects and
the eyes should be straight or parallel. A six-month-old infant should be able
to focus on both distant and near objects.
Q: What should I do if I notice wandering eyes in my
four-month-old child?
If parents notice crossed or wall eyes persisting in a child
four months of age, they should immediately take the child to an eye care
professional for an examination. Early medical attention is recommended for
another important reason—to rule out the presence of a serious disease, such
as a tumor.
Q: What if my baby appears completely healthy?
Prevent Blindness America recommends that all children have
an eye exam by the age of six months.
Q: Is strabismus present at birth?
Strabismus may be present at birth, it may become apparent
at a later age or it may appear at any time in life as a result of illness or
accident.
Q: How many children have strabismus?
Approximately two percent of the nation's children have
strabismus. Half of them are born with the condition.
Q: Is it important to detect strabismus early?
It is critical that this condition be diagnosed and
corrected at an early age since children with uncorrected strabismus may go on
to develop amblyopia.
Q: What is false or pseudo-strabismus?
Certain children may appear to have strabismus when, in
fact, they do not. An extra fold of skin near the inner eye, a broad, flat
nose or eyes that are unusually close together may also produce the effect of
false (or pseudo) strabismus. False strabismus should disappear as the child's
face grows.
After a professional examination, a parent's concern can be quickly
dispelled if false strabismus is present.
Q: What treatment is available for strabismus?
Strabismus cannot be outgrown, not will it improve by
itself. Treatment to straighten the eyes is required. The types of treatments
may be used alone or in combination, depending on the type of strabismus and
its cause.
 | Glasses are commonly prescribed to improve focusing and redirect the
line of sight, enabling the eyes to straighten.
| Medication in the form of eye drops or ointment may be used, with or
without glasses. Injected medication may be used to selectively weaken an
overactive eye muscle.
| Surgery may be performed on eye muscles to straighten the eyes if
nonsurgical means are unsuccessful.
| Eye exercise, a limited form of treatment, may be recommended either
before or after surgery to teach proper eye coordination. |
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