Strabismus
Strabismus usually develops during childhood but can occur at any age and may affect between five and 15 million people in the United States.1 The misalignment of the eye may be constant, or may come and go, but does not often resolve without medical intervention.
Risk Factors and Symptoms
Strabismus is a visual defect that results when the eyes do not properly align with each other. One eye may look straight ahead but the other may turn in ("crossed eyes"), out ("wall eyes"), upward, or downward. Left untreated, strabismus can cause serious vision problems.
Treatment
Patients with strabismus are generally referred to ophthalmologists for treatment. Strabismus treatment focuses on strengthening the eye muscles to improve alignment and achieve normal vision in both eyes. Glasses and eye exercises may be prescribed. When amblyopia is present (as is often the case in children with strabismus) the "good" eye may be covered with a patch forcing the child to use and train the amblyotic eye. If strengthening techniques are unsuccessful, surgery to reposition the extraocular muscles may be considered. Therapy with BOTOX® (Botulinum Toxin Type A) provides a minimally-invasive alternative to surgery for selected strabismus patients. If you suffer from strabismus, talk to your eye care professional about treatment options.