Strabismus (crossed eyes) is a disorder in which the eyes do not line up. This disorder causes your eyes to look in different directions, and each of your eyes will be focused on a different thing.
The six muscles that regulate eye movement normally function together to point both eyes in the same direction. Due to this poor muscle strength, patients with Strabismus have difficulty controlling their eye movement and maintaining appropriate visual alignment (eye position).
Children are more likely to develop Strabismus. Crossed eyes in older children and adults can be caused by various medical disorders, such as cerebral palsy or stroke. Eye turning can occur anytime or can only be seen when the person is tired, ill, or has done a lot of close work.
The Strabismus is categorized by the aim of the turned or misaligned eye:
• Inward turning of the eye (Esotropia)
• Outward turning of the eye (exotropia)
• Upward turning of the eye (hypertropia)
• Downward turning of the eye (hypotropia)
Although the eyes of some babies appear to be misaligned, they are aiming at the same thing. This is known as false Strabismus or pseudo strabismus. Extra skin covering the inner corner of the eyes or a wide bridge of the nose can give the appearance of crossed eyes. As the baby’s face develops, the appearance of crossed eyes usually fades.
Proper eye alignment is essential for avoiding double vision, having appropriate depth perception, and preventing the growth of poor vision in the turned eye. The brain perceives two different images when the eyes are misaligned. This may cause double vision and disorientation initially. On the other hand, the brain will eventually learn to ignore the image from the turned eye.
The Types of Strabismus
Strabismus is of several types. The two most common strabismus types are:
Accommodative Esotropia
This is common in people who have uncorrected farsightedness and a genetic inclination (family history) to shift their eyes inward. The extra focusing effort required to maintain distant items in clear focus may cause the eyes to tilt inward since the ability to focus is linked to where the eyes are pointing.
Intermittent Exotropia
With Intermittent Exotropia, one eye will fixate (focus) on a subject while the other eye will point outward. Double vision, headaches, difficulties reading, eyestrain, and closing one eye when seeing distant objects or in solid light are all possible symptoms.
Infantile esotropia is another kind of strabismus. This condition is characterized by the inward turning of both eyes in infants, which usually begins before six months.
The Symptoms of Strabismus
If your eyes are crossed, they may gaze inward or outward or focus in separate directions. Here are a few most common strabismus signs and symptoms:
• Eyes that look misaligned.
• Eyes that do not move together.
• Frequent blinking or squinting, especially in bright sunlight.
• Tilting the head to look at things.
• Faulty depth perception
• Double vision
If you witness any Strabismus symptoms, visit the eye hospital in KPHB, one of the famous eye hospitals in Hyderabad.
What Causes Strabismus?
Strabismus causes can occur due to nerve damage or when the weaker muscles surrounding your eyes don’t operate together. Due to this, the visual signals from your weaker eye are ignored.
Strabismus is a condition that some children are born with. It is described as congenital Strabismus, and usually, there is no apparent cause. The section of their nervous system that regulates their eye muscles may malfunction, or they could also have a tumor or an eye problem.
Infantile Esotropia is a kind of crossed eye that develops during the first year of life in babies. Esotropia is a condition that runs in families, and It affects children between 2 and 5. It is generally correctable with eyeglasses or surgery.
Young children can block vision in their weaker eyes, avoiding double vision. However, this could result in a “lazy eye,” also known as amblyopia. Eye turning, if left untreated, can result in a permanent visual loss in one eye.
The following conditions are associated with Strabismus:
• Refractive defects
• Poor vision in one eye
• Cerebral palsy
• Tumors of the brain
• A stroke (the leading cause of Strabismus in adults)
• Hydrocephalus is a congenital condition that results in a buildup of fluid in the brain.
• Head injuries
• Down syndrome
• Problems with the nervous system
• Graves’ disease is a chronic illness that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones.
Strabismus Diagnosis
Strabismus is diagnosed with the help of a comprehensive eye exam performed by an optometrist. The following tests may be used to determine Strabismus, with a focus on how your eyes concentrate and move:
• The corneal light reflex test to check for crossed eyes
• a visual acuity test to assess your readability from a distance
• The cover/uncover test to measure your eye movement and deviation
• a retina exam to examine the backs of your eyes
Have an early diagnosis by visiting the best eye hospital in Hyderabad for the ultimate prevention of the crossed eyes.
The other diagnostic practices of crossed eyes are:
Patient History
A Doctor of Optometry will inquire about any present symptoms the patient is experiencing. In addition, any general health issues, drugs, or environmental variables that may be contributing to the symptoms will be noted by the doctor.
Refraction
An optometrist can perform a refraction to identify the correct lens power to adjust for any refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism).
Alignment and Focusing Testing
Your eyes must efficiently change focus, move, and act in concert to obtain a clear, single image of what you are observing. Your optometrist will examine how well your eyes concentrate, move, and collaborate. This examination will check for issues that prevent your eyes from focusing correctly or making it difficult to use both eyes simultaneously.
Strabismus Treatment
Your crossed eyes’ severity and the underlying reasons will determine your recommended treatment plan. If your crossed eyes result from a lazy eye, your doctor may recommend that you wear a patch over your stronger eye to make your weaker eye’s muscles work harder.
The doctor can prescribe eye drops to impair your stronger eye’s vision. Botox injections can potentially be used to weaken the overacting muscle.
Other treatments include:
• Eye exercises
• Use of corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Strabismus eye surgery on specific eye muscles, particularly if corrective lenses haven’t corrected the condition
Your doctor may suggest medication, surgery, or other therapies if your crossed eyes are caused by an underlying problem such as a brain tumor or stroke.
The Final Word
Early detection and treatment of crossed eyes are critical for preventing visual loss. Don’t ignore the symptoms, and the younger the child, the more likely the problem will be corrected with the treatment. Make an appointment with the best eye specialist in Hyderabad if you acquire signs of crossed eye, or you can search online for a “strabismus specialist near me.”
