crossed eyes/strabismu
The
condition strabismus (crossed eyes) occurs when the eyes do not line up with
one another. In other words, one eye is directed in a different direction from
the other.
The six
muscles that regulate eye movement normally function together to point both
eyes in the same direction. Patients with strabismus have difficulty
controlling their eye movement and maintaining appropriate ocular alignment
(eye position).
The
direction of the twisted or misaligned eye can be used to classify strabismus:
1.
Turning
inward (esotropia)
2.
Turning
outward (exotropia)
3.
Turning
upward (hypertropia)
4.
Turning
in the opposite direction (hypotropia)
Other
considerations for determining the origin and therapy of strabismus include:
· Is the problem new or has it been
present for some time?
· Was it present during the first six
months of life or did it develop later?
· Is it always the same eye, or does it
alternate between them?
· Is there a minor, moderate, or
significant degree of turning?
· Is it present all of the time or only
some of the time?
· Is there a history of strabismus in
your family?
Types
Several
types of strabismus exist. The following are the two most common:
Accommodative
esotropia is a type of accommodative esotropia that happens when a person has
uncorrected farsightedness and a hereditary inclination (family history) to
turn 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. Double vision, closing or
covering one eye when gazing at something close, and tilting or twisting the
head are all symptoms. The onset of this type of strabismus is usually in the
first few years of life. Glasses are commonly used to cure this problem,
although it may also necessitate eye patching and/or surgery on the muscles of
one or both eyes.
Intermittent
exotropia: One eye will fixate (focus) on an object while the other eye is
gazing outward in this type of strabismus. Double vision, headaches,
difficulties reading, eyestrain, and closing one eye when seeing far distant
objects or in strong light are all possible symptoms. Patients may experience
no symptoms, but others may perceive the ocular deviation (difference). Exotropia
that occurs on a regular basis can occur at any age. Glasses, patching, eye
exercises, and/or surgery on the muscles of one or both eyes may be used to
treat the condition.
Infantile
esotropia is another kind of strabismus. This disorder is characterized by a
significant amount of inward turning of both eyes in infants, which usually
begins before the age of six months. Glasses do not fix the crossover because
there is usually no considerable amount of farsightedness present. Inward
turning may begin on an irregular basis, but it quickly becomes a habit. It's
seen when the child is staring both far away and close up. Surgery on the
muscles of one or both eyes to rectify the alignment is the treatment for this
form of strabismus.
Signs
If your eyes
are crossed, they may gaze inward or outward, or they may focus in separate
directions. You might also be interested in:
1.
eyesight
problems
2.
two-headedness
3.
diminished
perception of depth
4.
headache
or eyestrain
Your
symptoms could be constant or just arise when you're tired or sick.
Causes
Crossed eyes
can occur as a result of nerve damage or when the muscles surrounding your eyes
don't operate together as a result of some muscles being weaker than others.
When each eye sends a different visual message to your brain, the signals from
your weaker eye are ignored.
You may lose
eyesight in your weaker eye if your problem is not treated.
Children
frequently have crossed eyes. The underlying cause is frequently unknown.
Infantile esotropia is a kind of crossed eyes that develops during the first
year of life in neonates.
Esotropia is
a condition that runs in families and is usually treated with surgery.
Esotropia is a condition that affects children between the ages of 2 and 5. It
is normally correctable with eyeglasses.
Later in
life, crossed eyes might also appear. Physical problems such as eye damage,
cerebral palsy, or stroke are the most common causes.
Diagnosis
Early
detection and treatment of crossed eyes is critical for preventing visual loss.
Make an appointment with an eye doctor if you acquire signs of crossed eyes.
They'll conduct a series of tests to assess your eye health, which may include:
a corneal
light reflex test to see if your eyes are crossed
a test of
visual acuity to see how well you can read at a distance
a
cover/uncover test to see how far your eyes move and how far they deviate
an
examination of the backs of your eyes (retinal exam)
Your doctor
may evaluate your brain and neurological system for other diseases if you have
additional physical symptoms in addition to crossed eyes. They might run tests
to see if you have cerebral palsy or Guillain-Barré syndrome, for example.
Crossed eyes
are very prevalent in newborn newborns. If your baby's crossed eyes last longer
than three months, see a doctor.
Risks
If you do
any of the following, you're more likely to get crossed eyes:
have a brain
problem or brain tumor have had a stroke or brain injury have a lazy eye, are
farsighted, or have vision loss have a damaged retina have diabetes
Treatments
The severity
and underlying cause of your crossed eyes will determine your recommended
treatment plan. If your crossed eyes are the consequence of 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.
Your doctor
may also prescribe eye drops to impair your stronger eye's vision. Botox
injections can potentially be used to weaken the muscle that is overacting and
producing the eye turn.
Other
therapeutic options include:
eye
exercises corrective lenses, such as spectacles or contact lenses surgery on
some eye muscles, especially if corrective lenses haven't helped.
Your doctor
may suggest medication, surgery, or other therapies if your crossed eyes are
caused by an underlying medical problem such as a brain tumor or stroke.