Strabismus affects roughly 4% of the US population and is most commonly associated with the term “cross-eyed”. It is the inability of the eyes to point in the same direction at the same time. There are many different classifications of a strabismus. The classifications are used to describe in which direction the eye turns.
• Esotropia causes one eye to point towards the nose.
• Exotropia causes one eye to point outwards away from the nose.
• Hypertropia causes one eye to point upward.
• Hypotropia causes one eye to point downward.
• Intermittent describes whether the eye turns constantly or only some of the time. It also describes how much the eye turns.
All the muscles of each eye must work together to properly control fixation and enable clear, single vision. When the eyes are not working together, a strabismus may develop and needs to be addressed immediately. Glasses, vision therapy and surgery are effective forms of treatment for a strabismus. Symptoms of Esotropic Strabismus are often visible 6 months after birth and will only worsen with age. Make sure your family receives regular eye exams. Early detection of eye care issues is always a positive.
Dr. Tracey Glendenning
Eye Doctor, Wilmington-Racine Street
Doctors Vision Center