Strabismus

Strabismus is commonly referred to as a “crossed eye” or “wandering eye”. It is a visual condition in which a person is unable to effectively use both eyes simultaneously. In such scenarios, the brain gives one eye priority over another, resulting in one eye oriented properly (the priority eye) and the other being misaligned (the strabismic eye). When an eye turns inward it is referred to as esotropia and an outward turn is called exotropia. This eye turn can be situational – turning only when the patient is tired or fatigued — or it may be constant. Strabismus is caused by a lack of coordination between the brain and the muscles of the eyes.

When the eyes do not point at the same object at the same time, the result would normally be double vision. However, people with strabismus have learned to suppress, or “turn off” the misaligned eye in their brains, to prevent themselves from seeing double. They only use the central vision out of one eye at a time. Therefore, a person with strabismus has poor depth perception and compromised distance judgment, and often struggles with poor balance and coordination. If left untreated, the eye that turns may lose the ability to see clearly altogether. This condition is known as amblyopia, or “lazy eye”.

Whether the eye turn is constant or occasional, strabismus always requires treatment. It will not go away on its own, and children will not outgrow it.