Strabismus or Crossed-Eyes is a vision condition in which your eyes are not properly aligned with each other. For a variety of reasons, one or both eyes could be turning in, out, up or down. Coordination of your eyes and their ability to work together as a team develops in the first six years of life. Failure of the eye muscles to adjust properly in that time can lead to crossed-eyes. Strabismus may also have a tendency to be hereditary.

Children under the age of six are the ones most affected by strabismus. The condition often appears between birth and twenty-one months of age. It is estimated that five percent of all children have some type or degree of strabismus. Although rare, strabismus sometimes begins in adulthood, but this is usually the result of a stroke, tumor, amblyopia or other vascular disease.

Children with strabismus may initially have double vision. This occurs because both eyes are not focusing on the same object. In an attempt to avoid double vision, the brain will eventually disregard the image from one eye. In time, the ignored eye will become unable to function normally. This may result in the development of yet another eye condition called amblyopia or lazy eye.

It is a common misconception that a child will outgrow crossed-eyes. A child will not outgrow crossed-eyes. In fact, the condition may get worse without treatment.

A comprehensive optometric eye health examinationcan determine the presence of strabismus or crossed-eyes. The earlier this condition is diagnosed, the greater the chance this eye condition can be successfully corrected. Treatment can include eyeglasses (regular or bifocal), prisms, vision therapy and in some cases, surgery.

I hope to see you in our practice soon.

Sandra Rafael, OD