The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles answers the most asked question on strabismus in children and adults.
What is strabismus?
Strabismus is misalignment of the eyes (sometimes called "crossed eye"), which makes it impossible for the brain to use the information from the two eyes together normally. Some of the more common forms of strabismus include: esotropia, when one eye turns inward relative to the other; exotropia, when the eyes turn outward; hypertropia, upward; and hypotropia; downward.
Is strabismus inherited?
Research has shown that strabismus frequently, but not always, runs in families.
What are strabismus surgery complications?
Complications are rare; however, inflammation and retinal detachment are potential risks. Strabismus surgery is typically an outpatient procedure so you will want to be sure to follow the strict guidelines for post surgical care given by your doctor.
Why isn’t strabismus always treated with surgery?
Another form of treatment that is often used alone or in combination with surgery is corrective lenses or glasses. Certain types of strabismus caused by farsightedness are completely controlled with glasses, and surgery in these cases is the wrong treatment.
What is the best age for strabismus surgery?
Strabismus surgery can be done at any age; however, early treatment can improve children's the quality of life.
How does strabismus affect vision?
Children with strabismus from an early age do not see double, because their brains suppress the visual information from one eye. Some children with strabismus develop amblyopia. Strabismus can also interfere with normal depth perception.
What can you expect after strabismus surgery?
Strabismus surgery repositions the eye muscle, ultimately strengthening or weakening it to change the alignment of the eyes. It is an outpatient procedure and patients must administer antibiotic drops for about a week following surgery.
How is strabismus treated?
Treatment is a function of many factors: the type of strabismus, the child's age, vision, whether or not the strabismus is constant, and the child's refractive error. Treatment can include observation, eyeglasses that control eye alignment or surgery that shifts eye alignment. The best treatment for one type of strabismus may be inappropriate for a different type of strabismus.
What is the success rate for strabismus surgery in children and/or adults?
Depending on the severity of the case, most patients do have corrected ocular alignment after one surgery. In some cases, the eye alignment will change over time.
Can strabismus come back after treatment?
In some cases, the brain may not adapt to the new eye positioning, or the eye may drift again after treatment.
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