Strabismus (patient information)

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Overview
Strabismus is a disorder in which the two eyes do not line up in the same direction, and therefore do not look at the same object at the same time. The condition is more commonly known as "crossed eyes."

What are the symptoms of Strabismus?
Symptoms of strabismus may be present all the time, or only when you are tired or sick.

The eyes do not move together and may appear crossed at times.

The other eye will appear turned out, up, or down from wherever the first eye is focused.

Someone with strabismus may also have:


 * Depth perception loss
 * Double vision
 * Vision loss

What causes Strabismus?
Six different muscles surround the eyes and work "as a team" so that both eyes can focus on the same object.

In someone with strabismus, these muscles do not work together. As a result, one eye looks at one object, while the other eye turns in a different direction and is focused on another object.

When this occurs, two different images are sent to the brain -- one from each eye. This confuses the brain, and the brain may learn to ignore the image from the weaker eye.

If the strabismus is not treated, the eye that the brain ignores will never see well. This loss of vision is called amblyopia. Another name for amblyopia is "lazy eye." Sometimes amblyopia is present first, and it causes strabismus.

In most children with strabismus, the cause is unknown. In more than half of these cases, the problem is present at or shortly after birth (congenital strabismus).

Most of the time, the problem has to do with muscle control, and not with muscle strength.

Less often, problems with one of the nerves or muscles, or Graves' disease restriction may cause strabismus.

Other disorders associated with strabismus include:


 * Brain and nerve disorders, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or Guillain-Barre syndrome
 * Diabetes (causes a condition known as acquired paralytic strabismus)
 * Damage to the retina in children who are born premature
 * Hemangioma near the eye during infancy
 * Injuries to the eye
 * Tumor in the brain or eye
 * Vision loss from any eye disease or injury

Who is at highest risk?
A family history of strabismus is a risk factor. Farsightedness may be a contributing factor, especially in children. Any other disease that causes vision loss may also cause strabismus.

Diagnosis
A physical examination will include a detailed examination of the eyes. Tests will be done to determine how much the eyes are out of alignment.

Eye tests include:


 * Corneal light reflex
 * Cover/uncover test
 * Retinal exam
 * Standard ophthalmic exam
 * Visual acuity

A brain and nervous system (neurological) examination will also be performed.

When to seek urgent medical care?
Strabismus requires prompt medical evaluation. Call for an appointment with your health care provider or eye doctor if your child:


 * Appears to be cross-eyed
 * Complains of double vision
 * Has difficulty seeing

Note: Learning difficulties or problems at school can sometimes be due to a child's inability to see the blackboard or reading material.

Treatment options
The first step in treating strabismus is to prescribe glasses, if needed.

Amblyopia or lazy eye must be treated first. A patch is placed over the better eye. This forces the weaker eye to work harder.

Your child may not like wearing a patch or eyeglasses. A patch forces the child to see through the weaker eye at first. However, it is very important to use the patch or eyeglasses as directed.

If the eyes still do not move correctly, eye muscle surgery may be needed. Different muscles in the eye will be made stronger or weaker.

Eye muscle repair surgery does not fix the poor vision of a lazy eye. A child may have to wear glasses after surgery. In general, the younger a child is when the surgery is done, the better the result.

Adults with mild strabismus that comes and goes may do well with glasses and eye muscle exercises to help keep the eyes straight. More severe forms of adult strabismus will need surgery to straighten the eyes. If strabismus has occurred because of vision loss, the vision loss will need to be corrected before strabismus surgery can be successful.

Where to find medical care for Strabismus?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Strabismus

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
After surgery, the eyes may look straight but vision problems can remain.

The child may still have reading problems in school, and for adults driving may be more difficult. Vision may affect the ability to play sports.

With early diagnosis and treatment, the problem can usually be corrected. Delayed treatment may lead to permanent vision loss in one eye. About one-third of children with strabismus will develop amblyopia.

Because many children will get strabismus or amblyopia again, they need to be monitored closely.