Do you notice something unusual with your child’s eyes? Is he cross-eyed or does it seem like his eyes do not move together? Does he squint, tilt his head to one side or experience discomfort when reading? If so, he may be suffering from strabismus.
Strabismus is an eye condition in which the eyes are not aligned. One eye may look inward (cross-eyed), outward (wall-eyed), upward (hypertropia) or downward (hypotropia). Commonly seen in children, it may be associated with eye muscle problems.
“Six external muscles control the eye position and movement,” explains Asian Eye Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Ocular Geneticist Dr. Michelle Lingao, “If problems interfere with the control of these muscles, strabismus occurs. A family history of strabismus and tumors may also cause this eye condition.”
Most children don’t complain of eye problems because they assume whatever vision they have is normal. This is why routine eye exams are important. “Prompt detection and treatment of strabismus is essential for equal and full visual development of the eyes,” Dr. Lingao emphasizes, “If left untreated, strabismus may lead to double vision, lazy eye or other eye problems that may affect the learning and development of children.”
While it is common for the eyes of newborns to misalign, the vision usually stabilizes within two months. However, if the eyes continue to misalign, the condition may continue into adult years. Adults with long-standing strabismus may develop double vision or lazy eye. Lazy eye occurs when the brain “ignores” images from the misaligned eye.
According to Dr. Lingao, the goal of strabismus treatment is to improve eye alignment so that the eyes are able to work better together. Treatment includes the use of eyeglasses and prisms; eye patching; and eye muscle surgery.
