Strabismus Explained

Strabismus is a relatively common eye condition that is characterised by one eye turning in a different direction from the other one. Small muscles around the eyes control their movement and usually work in synchronicity. However, when you have strabismus, muscle control is not optimal and both eyes aren't aligned. The problem eye can turn up, down, out or in and the condition can develop suddenly or gradually over a long period of time. There's not always a clear reason when someone develops strabismus. There's thought to be a genetic component to strabismus, but the cause is not yet fully understood. Other factors that may increase your chance of having strabismus include having an underlying neurological problem, suffering a stroke and having uncorrected refractive errors. Read on to learn how strabismus is diagnosed and treated.

Diagnosing Strabismus

Strabismus can be diagnosed during a standard eye test. The optometrist will check visual acuity and carry out a range of focus and alignment tests. You will be asked to identify letters or shapes from a chart, and you may be given eye drops that dilate your pupils and allow the optometrist to check the health of the internal eye.

Treating Strabismus        

Your optometrist will recommend a treatment approach based on the finding of your eye test. If strabismus has developed due to uncorrected refractive errors, prescription glasses may be all that's required to fix the problem. Alternatively, your eye doctor may recommend prism lenses, which alter the angle that light enters your eye, and can help strabismus by reducing the need for the affected to turn to look at objects. Botox injections can also be used to treat some cases of strabismus and work by reducing the strength of the overactive eye muscle. When these more conservative treatments have not been successful, or when the degree of turning in the affected eye is severe, eye surgery may be necessary. Surgery aims to align the eyes correctly by altering the position of your eye muscles. The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, and although it may take a few days for your eyes to recover from the procedure, you should be able to go home the same day. Once you have recovered from surgery, you will have an eye test to ensure your eyes are healthy and the surgery was successful.

When strabismus is left untreated, you can develop persistent headaches and changes to your vision. It's an eye condition that's relatively simple to treat, so if you think you may be experiencing strabismus, have your eyes checked. Contact a local eye surgeon to learn more.