|
|
|
Squint Correction
|
|
Crossed eyes – medically known as
strabismus
(struh-BIZ-mus) – refer to a condition in which muscles that control eye movement are not properly coordinated or by problems with the nerves that control the eye muscles or with the brain where the signals for vision are processed. The result is one or both eyes turn inward, outward, upward or downward, or one or both eyes may move irregularly.
Also known as “misaligned eyes,” “wandering eyes” or “wall eyes,” strabismus can be constant or occur intermittently, which usually worsens when eye muscles are tired or during illness. When the eyes turn inward toward the nose (or crossed), the condition is called
“esotropia” – the most common form. When they turn outward, it is called
“exotropia”. When an eye turns upward it is known as
“hypertropia” and “hypotropia” refers to an eye turned downward. |
Normal
Esotropia
Exotropia
 |
Strabismus is usually diagnosed during childhood and affects about 4 percent of children, afflicting boys and girls equally. But it can develop in older children or adults as the result of injury or diseases such as a brain disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis or thyroid problems.
Most infants appear to be crossed-eyed, at least intermittently, during their first 3 months, as they are learning to focus. Most babies outgrow this. If your child’s eyes remain crossed or misaligned after 6 months, it may be infantile esotropia, a condition that often results from heredity or cerebral palsy. However, a condition often mistaken for strabismus is pseudostrabismus, in which a widened nasal bridge or extra fold of skin makes the white sclera appear less visible – giving the appearance that the eyes are crossed. This usually resolves as the infant grows and the facial structures change.
Symptoms
The obvious signs of strabismus are eyes that appear misaligned and don’t move together. Those with strabismus may experience:
Double vision
Difficulty focusing or judging distances
Frequent blinking or squinting, especially in bright sunlight
Tilting the head to look at things
Frequent headaches
Eye pain
Nausea
|
|
