Strabismus

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Strabismus
Synonyms	Heterotropia, squint
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Misalignment of the eyes, double vision, amblyopia
Complications	Amblyopia, diplopia, binocular vision problems
Onset	Usually in childhood
Duration	Can be persistent
Types	N/A
Causes	Genetic, neurological, muscle abnormalities
Risks	Family history, premature birth, cerebral palsy
Diagnosis	Eye examination, cover test, Hirschberg test
Differential diagnosis	Pseudostrabismus, cranial nerve palsy
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Glasses, prism lenses, vision therapy, surgery
Medication	Botulinum toxin
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	~2-4% of the population
Deaths	N/A

Strabismus is a vision condition where the eyes are not properly aligned with each other, resulting in an inability to maintain simultaneous eye alignment on an object of visual interest. This condition can manifest as cross-eye (esotropia), where one eye points inward, or walleye (exotropia), where one eye points outward.

Squinting_child

Pathophysiology

The six extraocular muscles attached to each eye control eye movement. These muscles work in pairs, with one muscle of each pair responsible for "pulling" the eye in a specific direction, while its counterpart "pushes". When these muscles do not function together effectively, strabismus occurs. This can be due to issues with the muscles themselves or the nerves controlling them.

Symptoms

Strabismus can present in different ways, with some individuals showing visible misalignment of the eyes, while in others, the condition may only be noticeable during times of stress or illness. Symptoms can include:

• Eyes that look misaligned
• Double vision
• Poor depth perception
• Closing or covering one eye, especially in bright sunlight
• Eye strain or fatigue

Treatment

Treatment options for strabismus include:

• Glasses or contact lenses: Some cases of strabismus can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, especially when associated with refractive errors like farsightedness.
• Vision therapy: This involves specific exercises designed to improve coordination and control of the eye muscles.
• Surgery: In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to adjust the position or strength of the eye muscles.
• Patching: This can help in cases of amblyopia ("lazy eye"), often associated with strabismus.

See also

• Amblyopia
• Diplopia
• Ophthalmology
• Vision therapy