Strabismusor squint is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned properly with each other. Since both eyes must point in the same direction to see properly, it ends up affecting the vision resulting in signs and symptoms, such as:
- Double vision(seeing double images of any object)
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty in reading
- Loss of depth perception (unable to judge how far or near something is)
- Weaknessin or around the eye
What causes strabismus?
There are six muscles in the eye that work in coordination with each other to bring eye movements. The problem in the functioning of these muscles or in the nerves that control these muscles is thought to be the cause ofstrabismus.
Strabismus is found to be caused by the following conditions:
- Heredity (family history of strabismus)
- Uncorrected shortsightedness
- Uncorrectedfarsightedness
- Poor vision in one eye
- Cerebral palsy(a group of disorders occurring by birth that affects muscle tone or posture)
- Down syndrome
- Hydrocephalus(a condition present by birth that results in a buildup of fluid in the brain)
- Stroke(the most common cause of strabismus in adults)
- Head injuries(damage to the area that is concerned with the control of eye movements)
- Graves disease(a thyroid disorder in which there is increased production ofthyroid hormone
- Disorders of the nervous system, such asmyasthenia gravis
- Brain tumors
- Any eye surgery that can damage the eye muscles
How is strabismus treated?
After taking the medical history of the patient, the doctor discusses various treatment options with you that include:
- Eyeglasses:These are used in patients with uncorrected refractive errors, shortsightedness, andfarsightedness. These are special glasses to help focus and straighten the eyes.
- Prismlens:This is a type of specialized lens that bends the light rays and allows the affected person to focus. They can be attached to eyeglasses or made as part of the lens.
- Eye exercises:These are recommended for patients who have their eyes directed outwards (exotropia). Eye exercises help focus both eyes inward.
- Medications:Medications includeAtropinethat can be given in the form of eye drops or ointments. The problem of the eye muscles is treated with injections of Botulinum toxintype A, such asBotox.
- Patching:Patching aims at strengthening a misaligned eye that is weaker than the other. An eye patch is applied over the stronger eye, which forces the person to use the weaker eye resulting in the restoration of the weaker eye’s strength.
- Eye muscle surgery:A surgery that changes the length or position of eye muscles helps in achieving the proper alignment of eyes.
What happens if strabismus is not treated?
Without treatment, strabismus can worsen over time. This is especially true for children.
Untreated strabismus may result in:
- Lazy eye(amblyopia):Because each eye points in different directions, two images of the same object are produced. Over time, the stronger (healthy) eye amongst the two works more to produce a single image, which results in poor vision in the other (strabismus-affected) eye. Around one-third of children with strabismus end up with amblyopia.
- Blurring of vision
- Permanentdouble vision
- Eyestrain
- Frequentheadaches
- Low self-esteem
QUESTION
See AnswerHealth SolutionsFrom Our Sponsors
Adult Strabismus. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-strabismus
Top Does Strabismus Affect Vision? Related Articles
Can You Fix a Lazy Eye?
Lazy eye or amblyopia is a condition in which one eye has poor vision due to a lack of coordination between the brain and eye. Over time, the brain favors the stronger eye, leading to permanent vision loss in the weak eye. Lazy eye can be fixed with the best outcomes if detected early in life (up to seven years of age).What Are the Types of Eye Care?
Many common eye disorders resolve without treatment and some may be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) products. It's important to visit a physician or ophthalmologist is the problem involves the eyeball itself or the condition hasn't improved after 72 hours of use of an OTC eye care product.Common Eye Problems
Eye diseases can cause damage and blindness if not treated soon enough. Learn the warning signs and symptoms of common eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, pink eye, macular degeneration and more.Eye Picture
眼睛有很多组件有限公司lude but are not limited to the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, macula, optic nerve, choroid and vitreous. See a picture of the Eye and learn more about the health topic.Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
Strabismus, or crossed eyes, is a condition in which the eyes do not align in the usual way. The condition may be congenital or the result of a problem with the control of the muscles of the eyes. Strabismus may cause double vision, headaches, eyestrain, and problems with depth perception and peripheral vision. Treatment may involve physical therapy, vision therapy, surgery, or wearing glasses.Susvimo (ranibizumab)
Susvimo (ranibizumab) injection is a prescription ophthalmic medicine used to treat the symptoms of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which may cause vision loss (blindness). Susvimo is delivered via ocular implant. Serious side effects of Susvimo include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face/lips/tongue/throat, severe eye pain, redness in the white of the eye, extreme sensitivity to bright light, decreased vision, swelling of the eyelid, floaters in the eye, sudden flashes of light, and others.