Strabismus is a vision disorder in which one of the eyes deviates from the common point of fixation and distorts binocular vision. It can be constant or provoked by eye fatigue. In the first 2-3 months of an infant
Strabismus is a vision disorder in which one of the eyes deviates from the common point of fixation and distorts binocular vision. It can be constant or provoked by eye fatigue. In the first 2-3 months of an infant’s life there is no coordination in the movements of the eyes. Until 5-6 months of age they assume their normal position and any turns of the eyes after this age are considered congenital. Strabismus which appears later (at 2-3 years of age) is called accommodative. If the child wears spectacles (usually for long-sightedness) the eye with a higher dioptre develops amblyopia (the so called lazy eye). When one eye is lazy its images are blocked and the brain identifies only the images of the stronger eye. If this condition is not treated it can cause blindness in the weaker eye.
Treatment starts at very early age by patching the dominant eye to stimulate the weak eye to become stronger.
Strabismus is treated by prescribing the correct eyeglasses and stimulating the vision of the weaker eye. Sometimes visual exercises are necessary. If these methods have no result surgery might be an option. The decision for surgery is only taken by a pediatric ophthalmologist.