What Is Strabismus?

Strabismus is a condition that leads to misalignment of the eyes. In this rare form of strabismus, one eye turns in a different direction compared to the other eye. This misalignment can be constant or come and go, and can affect one or both eyes. It can have a significant impact on one’s vision and depth perception, and if left untreated, can cause long-term outcomes such as amblyopia. 

How Common Is Strabismus?

Strabismus is very common, affecting up to 2-4% of children in Canada. Doctors generally diagnose the condition in early childhood. Adults can get strabismus, as it’s commonly caused by underlying health conditions or trauma. This understanding of the importance of early diagnosis has led to the development of effective treatment. This is particularly critical in children, whose brain and visual system are under active development.

Early Signs Of Strabismus

The most noticeable sign of strabismus is one eye turning inward, outward, upward, or downward while the other stays straight. Some children may experience double vision, tilt their head, or squint to focus—often linked to accommodative esotropia. More subtle signs include avoiding activities requiring depth perception, like catching a ball.

Strabismus usually appears by age three, affecting about 4% of young children. Mild misalignment is normal in infants up to three months, but if it persists beyond four months, it’s a concern. Early detection is crucial, so if your child shows signs, schedule an eye exam promptly.

Causes Of Strabismus

Strabismus, or eye misalignment, stems from issues with eye muscles, nerves, or brain control. Weak or paralyzed eye muscles can prevent proper coordination, while nerve damage disrupts signals needed for alignment. Brain injuries, strokes, or uncorrected farsightedness can also contribute to it.

Risk factors include premature birth, low birth weight, diabetes, or eye trauma. Genetics also play a significant role, so children with a family history are more likely to develop this eye misalignment. Neurological conditions and muscle weakness further impact eye coordination, making early detection crucial for treatment.

Living With Strabismus

Strabismus can significantly impact vision, daily activities, and confidence. Tasks like reading, driving, and navigating stairs can become challenging due to issues like double vision and poor depth perception. Some people experience constant eye strain and migraines, making daily life even more difficult. Managing symptoms with frequent breaks, anti-fatigue glasses, and treatments like eye exercises, medications, or surgery can help, though ongoing care is often needed.

Beyond the physical challenges, strabismus can take a toll on mental and social well-being. The visible nature of the condition may lead to self-consciousness, affecting social interactions and career opportunities. Children with strabismus may face teasing, impacting their self-esteem, while adults may struggle with social discomfort. With the right treatments and support, individuals with this condition can navigate life with confidence.

Treatments

Strabismus can affect people of all ages, impacting both vision and confidence. Treatment aims to restore proper eye alignment and coordination, improving both function and appearance. The approach varies based on severity, patient age, and whether the condition is chronic or newly developed.

Non-surgical treatments are often the first step, especially for mild cases. Corrective lenses can help if strabismus is linked to refractive errors like farsightedness. Eye patches may strengthen weaker eyes, while targeted exercises improve coordination. In some cases, medications like Botox can temporarily relax overactive eye muscles to aid alignment.

For moderate to severe cases, or when non-surgical methods fail, surgery may be required. This outpatient procedure adjusts eye muscles to improve alignment, though follow-up treatments like glasses may still be needed. Emerging therapies, including vision therapy and digital eye-tracking, offer new hope by retraining the brain to enhance eye coordination, paving the way for future advancements in strabismus care.

Conclusion

Strabismus can have profound impacts on one’s vision and everyday life, but with appropriate treatment and compassion it can be an easily understood condition. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing permanent visual impairment and other complications. Whether it’s managing with glasses, pursuing therapy or a surgical intervention, there are approaches available that can help restore alignment and reduce bothersome symptoms. 

If you or your child experiences any of these symptoms or have concerns regarding strabismus, don’t hesitate to book an appointment at Dr. D’Orio Eyecare today. Visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ or call us at 416-656-2020 for our Toronto location, or 416-661-5555 for our North York location.

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1. What Is Strabismus?

Strabismus, or more commonly known as a crossed eye or an out-turned eye, is a misalignment of an individual’s eye. Due to strabismus, the individual cannot focus on the same object. The misalignment of eyes can cause double vision, sudden loss of vision in one eye, and other vision problems.

2. What Causes Strabismus?

As with many eye conditions, the exact cause of strabismus is unknown. However, most cases of strabismus are generally due to the inability of the brain to coordinate with the eyes properly. Additionally, throughout the first 8 years of your life, your eyes are supposed to learn how to work together. If, for some reason, your eye muscles fail to work together, this could cause strabismus. Last, strabismus can be caused by conditions that affect the brain, like down syndrome, cerebral palsy, brain tumours, besides others.

3. What Are The Types Of Strabismus?

While you might think that there is only one type of strabismus, there are actually several types! The different types of strabismus are described by the direction of misalignment of the eyes. There are 4 possible types of strabismus that one can be diagnosed with after an eye examination. An eye that is turned in is known as esotropia; and an eye that is turned out is known as exotropia. If the abnormal eye is higher than a normal eye, it is known as hypertropia; and if the abnormal eye is lower than the normal eye, it is known as hypotropia. Treatment may differ depending on the type of strabismus that the individual is diagnosed with.

4. What Are The Symptoms Of Strabismus?

The easiest way of identifying strabismus is to check if the eyes are misaligned, either up, down, turning in, or turning out. Other symptoms of strabismus are double vision, head tilting, eye strain, and squinting. Additionally, if the person covers one eye to improve their vision, it is likely because their eyes are aligned incorrectly. Last, from an observer standpoint, if the individual has poor coordination, bumps into things, or is clumsy, this could indicate strabismus, as this eye condition limits depth perception.

5. How Do You Treat Strabismus?

To develop good vision with strabismus, it’s important to stimulate the eye. These include visual exercises like focusing on objects and stopping when the objects appear blurry. Exercises like this help train the brain and the eyes to work together properly. Other treatments include eyeglasses and contact lenses for mild cases. On the other hand, individuals with worse strabismus might need surgery to help align the eyes correctly.

After reading these facts about strabismus, you might suspect that your child has it. It is important to get them diagnosed as soon as you identify symptoms, such as double vision, squinting, or head tilting. To book an appointment at Dr D’Orio Eyecare, visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ or call us at 416-656-2020 for our Toronto location, or 416-661-5555 for our North York location.

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1. Myopia

Myopia is an eye condition when a person is nearsighted, meaning that they cannot see far distances. Without early diagnosis, myopia can make school more difficult for children, especially if they are sitting far away from the teacher’s board. Additionally, observation by parents or guardians are crucial to diagnosing myopia in young children. To find out more about the signs and symptoms of myopia in children, click here.

2. Amblyopia

Amblyopia is more commonly known as lazy eye. If a child doesn’t use their eye adequately during childhood, they might develop a lazy eye. Amblyopia is formed when the brain doesn’t fully process input from one eye, so, instead, it overcompensates with the other eye. Amblyopia is the most common cause of vision loss in children, so early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent this. Some examples of treatment include wearing an eye patch or eyeglasses, using therapeutic eye drops, and in some cases, even surgery.

3. Strabismus

Strabismus is an eye condition that refers to the misalignment of one’s eyes. Usually, the eye will be turned inwards towards the nose, or outwards towards the ear. If a child has strabismus, it is highly likely that they will develop amblyopia. Sometimes children with strabismus will tilt their head, so their eyes can align, or they might squint excessively in bright lights. To improve strabismus coordination, the eye must be stimulated by using eyeglasses, eye drops, or an eye patch.

4. Pediatric Cataracts

Pediatric cataracts refers to cataracts in young children. Although most individuals associate cataracts with elderly people, cataracts can also be found in young children. Children who have cataracts might have developed them genetically, or through infection or trauma while in the womb. In pediatric cataracts, the lens of the eye appears cloudy, therefore, impairing the child’s vision. Based on the severity of the cataract, the child might need special treatment, including surgery to remove the cataract.

5. Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a swelling of the conjunctiva or eyelids. It is accompanied by pinkness, discharge, and an itching or burning sensation. Conjunctivitis is quite common in children, especially when it’s related to bacteria, viruses, and allergies. At such a young age, children’s immune systems are still quite weak. When it comes to conjunctivitis, it’s commonly contracted through daycares or elementary schools, as these places are often covered with germs. Teaching your children to wash their hands before touching their eyes is an important method to avoid getting conjunctivitis.

If you believe there has been a change in your child’s vision, Dr D’Orio Eyecare will find the most appropriate treatment for them, so they can go back to exploring the world with healthy childlike eyes. To book an appointment today, visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ or call us at 416 656 2020 for our Toronto location, or 416 661 5555 for our North York location.

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