Strabismus is varcharacterized as the lack of coordinated muscle movement or focusing ability between the eyes. This results in the eyes pointing in different directions. One or both eyes may turn inward which is called crossed eyes, or esotropia.. They may also turn outward which is called walleye, or exotroipia. Eye muscle coordination is not fully mature at birth, and infants are not able to focus. Therefore, a true eye drift, or strabismus, may not show up until 3 or 4 months of age. About 4 percent of children have strabismus. It this is not treated by early childhood, it can lead to visual loss in the non-dominant eye.
Causes of Strabismus
Movement of the eyes are controlled by six muscles and three cranial nerves. These muscles must work in concert to have the images in both eyes be the same. Muscle imbalance between the eyes can lead to strabismus. Impaired vision in one eye may develop due to impaired neurological development (amblyopia). Here, vision in the non-dominant eye does not develop normally. The weak eye is useless and looks in another direction. Farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism in one eye can lead to similar problems as amblyopia and result in strabismus. Damage to the brain or to the nerves leaving the brainstem to supply the muscles of the eye can also produce strabismus.
Signs and Symptoms of Strabismus
Strabismus will produce eyes that appear to look in different directions. This may be evident only when the subject is looking in certain directions. There may be loss of depth perception, especially noticeable in children when they handle or play with objects. The vision in one eye may be poor compared to the other.
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Medical Content Last Updated on 07/12/2008
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