Strabismus

What are the signs and symptoms of strabismus?

You may notice your child’s eyes pointing in different directions some or all the time. A child may also close one eye or display a head turn or head tilt. In adults or older children with strabismus they may notice double vision. Younger children with strabismus often do not report double vision because the developing brain learns to ignore or suppress one of the eyes. If this occurs, the ignored eye will not develop strong vision, a condition known as amblyopia. Amblyopia is frequently associated with strabismus.

What tests are used to diagnose strabismus?

Strabismus is diagnosed during a comprehensive eye examination in which we evaluate refractive error, eye alignment, and overall ocular health.

What can I expect from an eye exam?

Plan for the initial visit to take between 2 to 3 hours. The overall experience is generally positive and interactive. The most stressful portion of the eye examination for children is often the administration of the eye drops for dilation. Eye drops are necessary in order to most accurately measure the glasses prescription, as well as to allow for comprehensive examination of the retina and optic nerve.

How do we diagnose strabismus?

A pediatric ophthalmologist or optometrist can often diagnose strabismus simply by looking at the child’s eyes and observing the deviation or by assessing the reflection of a light off the child’s eye. Another test to assess alignment involves having the child observe an object while the doctor covers and uncovers each eye. This allows the doctor to assess which eye is misaligned, how often it is misaligned and how large the misalignment is.

How is Strabismus treated?

Treatment options for strabismus vary based on the type and severity of the misalignment.

• Esotropia is a condition in which one or both eyes turn inward. In some cases of esotropia, glasses can be prescribed to keep the eyes aligned. However, in many cases, early surgery is needed to correct the misalignment and prevent vision loss. Many children will require glasses and eye patching. Esotropia is rare after about 3 to 4 months of age and needs to be treated by a pediatric eye specialist.
• Exotropia is a condition in which one or both eyes turn outward. Although glasses, patching, or eye muscle exercises may help control or reduce the outward turning eye, surgery is often needed to correct exotropia to allow the eyes to work as a team and to prevent permanent vision loss.

Why choose us for treatment of strabismus?

We have an excellent team of pediatric eye care providers with ample experience in the diagnosis and treatment of strabismus. Our ophthalmologists are board-certified and fellowship-trained in pediatric ophthalmology and our optometrists are board-certified and residency-trained in pediatric optometry. Early detection and treatment of strabismus can prevent permanent vision loss, which is why it is essential that children who are suspected of having strabismus are seen by a pediatric eye care specialist immediately.