What ıs strabısmus?
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Understanding Strabismus: What Are Crossed Eyes?
Strabismus, commonly known as crossed eyes, is a visual condition in which both eyes do not look at the same place at the same time. This misalignment occurs when the eyes fail to work together as a team, typically due to poor eye muscle control or significant farsightedness.
Each eye is controlled by six muscles that receive signals from the brain to direct their movements. Under normal conditions, these muscles coordinate so that both eyes point at the same target. However, when problems develop with movement control, one eye may turn in, out, up, or down, disrupting the visual balance.
Symptoms and Patterns of Eye Misalignment
The appearance of eye turning is not always constant. It may manifest in various ways depending on the individual's health and activity level. Key characteristics of strabismus symptoms include:
- Intermittent Turning: The misalignment may only appear when the person is tired, ill, or engaged in close-up work like reading.
- Constant Turning: In some cases, the eye remains misaligned at all times.
- Alternating Turning: The eyes may take turns in which one is misaligned.
Proper eye alignment is critical for maintaining good depth perception, avoiding double vision, and preventing the development of permanent vision loss in the affected eye.
The Risks of Untreated Strabismus: Amblyopia
When the eyes are misaligned, the brain receives two different images, which initially causes confusion and double vision. Over time, the brain adapts by learning to ignore the image from the turned eye. If left untreated, this suppression leads to a permanent reduction in vision known as amblyopia or lazy eye.
It is a common misconception that children will simply outgrow this condition. On the contrary, strabismus may worsen without professional intervention. While it usually develops in infants and children by age 3, it can also affect older children and adults.
Pseudostrabismus: False Appearance of Crossed Eyes
In some infants, the eyes may appear to be misaligned when they are actually aiming at the same object. This condition is called pseudostrabismus (false strabismus). This appearance is often caused by extra skin covering the inner corners of the eyes or a wide bridge of the nose. As the child's facial structure grows, this appearance typically disappears.
Professional Diagnosis and Treatment Methods
An optometrist should examine any child older than 4 months whose eyes do not appear straight at all times. Early detection is the key to achieving excellent results. Depending on the severity and cause, several treatment options are available:
| Treatment Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Eyeglasses or Contacts | Often the only treatment needed for some patients to correct alignment. |
| Prism Lenses | Special lenses that alter light entry to reduce the effort required for the eye to turn. |
| Vision Therapy | A structured program of visual activities to train the eyes and brain to work together. |
| Eye Muscle Surgery | Adjusting the length or position of eye muscles to physically straighten the eyes. |
Vision therapy is particularly effective as it reinforces the eye-brain connection, helping with eye focusing and teaming. Even after surgery, many patients require vision therapy to prevent the eyes from becoming misaligned again.
Op. Dr. Ahmet UMAY
