Strabismus

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Strabismus
Table of Contents
Alternative names Defination Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors	Prevention Symptoms Signs & Tests Treatment	Expectations Complications Calling Your health care provider
Alternative Names crossed eyes; esotropia; exotropia; squint; walleye
Definition A condition of abnormal deviation or alignment of one eye in relation to the other.
Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors Strabismus is caused by a lack of muscle coordination between the eyes, causing the eyes to point in different directions. The eyes are unable to focus simultaneously on a single point. Strabismus may result from problems with the extraocular muscles (the six muscle pairs that move the eyes), problems with neurological control of the extraocular muscles, neurotoxins, blindness, mechanical problems in the eye, or mechanical obstruction to vision in one eye during early life. In adults, strabismus may be a symptom of various brain disorders or systemic diseases. Some of the disorders that can be associated with strabismus include: amblyopia paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) botulism hemangioma near eye during infancy Guillain-Barre congenital strabismus (50% of all cases of strabismus) Apert syndrome Noonan syndrome Prader-Willi syndrome trisomy 18 congenital rubella incontinentia pigmenti syndrome cerebral palsy strabismus Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome pseudohyperparathyroidism Strabismus causes a double image to form, and the brain suppresses the image of the diverting eye, causing amblyopia. Strabismus may lead to vision loss in the nondominant eye. A family history of the disease is a risk factor. farsightedness may be a contributing factor.
Prevention There is often no way to prevent strabismus from developing.
Symptoms uncoordinated eye movements double vision vision in only one eye with loss of depth perception eyes that appear crossed eyes that do not align in the same direction
Signs & Tests Your health care provider will first determine if the child truly has strabismus. This is often as simple as shining a pinpoint of light into the child's eyes and observing if the reflection in each eye is on the same place on each cornea. If the child has strabismus, a workup will be done to determine the cause of the strabismus. The physical examination will include a detailed examination of the eyes. The patient may be asked to look through a series of prisms to determine the extent of eye divergence. The eye muscles will be tested to determine the strength of the extraocular muscles. Tests include: standard ophthalmic exam visual acuity retinal exam neurological examination
Treatment Initially, strategies to strengthen the weakened muscles and thereby realign the eyes are attempted. This may include wearing a patch over the unaffected eye, wearing special eyeglasses, or performing eye muscle exercises. Surgery may be required to realign the eye muscles if strengthening techniques are unsuccessful.
Expectations (Prognosis) With an early diagnosis, the defect can usually be corrected. With delayed treatment, vision loss in one eye may be permanent.
Complications loss of vision in one eye embarrassment over facial appearance with eye patch
Calling your doctor/health care provider Call for an appointment with your health care provider or eye doctor if your child complains of double vision or difficulty with the vision, or if your child appears to be cross-eyed or the eyes do not fix on the same point. Strabismus requires prompt medical evaluation.

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