When Your Child Has Strabismus
What is Strabismis?
Strabismus means that your child's eyes are not positioned straight, They may
be turned in (crossed eyes) or out. One eye may be too low or too high compared
to the other rye. One or both eyes may be affected compared to the other. eye.
What Causes strabismus?
Strabismus may be caused by any of the following:
- Weakened muscles or abnormal nerve impulses to the eye muscles where the
brain does not know how to align the eyes
- Heredity (parent has strabismus)
- Blurred or poor vision
- Conditions inside the eye that cloud vision
How do the eyes work together?
The movements of the eyes up and down and form side to side are controlled by
muscles attached to the outside of each eyeball. Both eyes should face and turn
together in the same direction. When the eyes turn, one muscle pulls while the
other relaxes. The muscles are positioned in such a way that the eyes can move
together in all directions.
What happens if the eyes do not work together?
Most people look at an object with both eyes at the same time. This is called
normal binocular vision. Children with strabismus have a problem with the
binocular vision. They cannot use both eyes at the same time because the eyes
are not pointing in the same directions. Vision in each eye is usually normal if
the eyes take turns looking at things, However, if the child uses just one eye
at a time the vision in the other eye may not develop properly. This condition
is known as "amblyopia" or lazy eye. (See the pamphlet Amblyopia).
What is the treatment?
The goals of treatment are threefold:
- To preserve, improve or restore vision
- To straighten the eyes
- To make the eyes work together
Each child's vision problem is different. Your Doctor will explain what type
pf treatment is best for your child. Treatment may include a combination of the
following procedures.
Patching
When strabismus results in amblyopia (lazy eye), the most common and
effective treatment is to put a patch over the stronger eye. This helps
strengthen the lazy eye. Your doctor will explain how often and how long the
patch will be needed. He/she will check your child regularly to see if the
treatment is working.
Eyeglasses
Your child may need glasses to help the eyes work together, to improve
vision, or both. To be effective the glasses must be worn at all times when your
child is awake.
Eye drops
Blurring the vision in the stronger eye with special eye drops may be needed
in some cases to make the lazy eye work harder.
Eye exercises
In some "Very specific" cases eye exercises may help the eyes move better
together.
Surgery
Surgery to correct eye position is often used along with glasses and patching
to help to get your child's eyes as straight as they can be.
Goal
The goal of all the above is to help your child be as good as they can be
visually. The straighter your child's eyes and the better the vision at as young
an age as possible the better your child can learn to see one clear image with
both eyes at one time. As your child is treated for strabismus you will work
together with your Doctor as a team to help your child be as good as they can
be. At each stage different treatments may be applied and it is very important
that you understand what is being done, why and what the goals are. If you are
ever unclear please remember to write it down and ask the questions to your
Doctor.
|