|
The most common types of Strabismus
Esotropia
Esotropia, where the eye turns inward, is the most common type of strabismus found in infants. Young children with esotropia do not use their eyes together. In most cases early surgery can align the eyes.
During surgery, the tension of the eye muscles in one or both the eyes is adjusted. The tight inner muscles may be removed from the wall of the eye and placed further back on the eye. This adjustment weakens the pull and allows the eyes to move outward. Sometimes the outer muscles are tightened by shortening the muscle length, to allow the eyes to move outward.
Accommodative esotropia
Accommodative esotropia is a common form of esotropia that occurs in farsighted children two years of age or older. When a child is young, he/she can focus the eyes to adjust for the farsightedness, but the focusing effort (accommodation) needed to see clearly causes the eyes to cross.
Glasses reduce this focusing effort and can help straighten the eyes. Sometimes bifocals are needed for close work. Eye drops, ointments, or special lenses called prisms can also be used to straighten the eyes.
Exotropia
Exotropia or an outward-turning eye is another common type of strabismus. This occurs most often when a child is focusing on distant objects. The exotropia may occur only from time to time, particularly when a child is daydreaming, ill or tired. Parents often notice that the child squints one eye in bright sunlight.
Although glasses, exercises or prisms may reduce or help control the outward-turning eye in some children, surgery is often needed.
|
