Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, is a condition where the two eyes do not align on the same axis of vision. Early treatment is necessary to avoid serious eye and cosmetic complications.
This article was professionally reviewed by Dr. Vu Thi Que Anh, Department of Ophthalmology, Hanoi Medical University Hospital.
What is strabismus?
Strabismus is when one eye turns inward, outward, upward, or downward, while the other eye looks straight ahead. When one eye turns inward, the patient has esotropia (inward strabismus). When one eye turns outward, the patient has exotropia (outward strabismus). When the two eyes are not aligned, the images sent to the brain in each eye will be very different.
If strabismus is left untreated, the brain may begin to reject images from the eye that is facing away from the main line of sight. This leads to a decrease in vision, also known as amblyopia.
Classify
There are many different types of strabismus. Generally, strabismus is classified according to the direction of the deviation into esotropia, exotropia, and vertical strabismus.
Reason
- Three of the 12 cranial nerves (III, IV, VI) are involved in innervating the extraocular muscles, and paralysis of these nerves can cause strabismus.
- Due to injury, vascular disease such as stroke, or thyroid disease...
- Some specific types of strabismus may have their own names, such as Brown syndrome, Duane syndrome, Ciancia syndrome, etc.
Treatment
Strabismus is common in young children, and if left untreated, it can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye). Currently, treatment for strabismus includes surgical and non-surgical methods to correct the misalignment of the eyeballs.
Non-surgical treatment methods
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses help improve vision and are used to treat cases of strabismus caused by accommodation.
- Use a prism with a thicker base and a thinner apex. Depending on the direction of strabismus, the base of the prism is adjusted to point outwards or inwards. The lens corrects the direction of light entering the eye and reduces the misalignment of the strabismic eye when looking at a focal object.
- Doctors guide patients through visual exercises to improve and adjust binocular coordination.
Surgical treatment methods
Depending on the degree of strabismus, binocular vision, strabismus morphology, and muscle movement, the surgeon may prescribe different methods such as muscle retraction, suture-corrected muscle retraction, muscle withdrawal, or muscle transplantation to achieve the appropriate correction.
Treatment goals for strabismus
- Bring your eyes together in alignment.
- Improve binocular vision to the best possible extent.
- Helps the two eyes work in coordination (maintains binocular vision).
- Improvement in terms of aesthetics.
If you or a loved one experiences symptoms of strabismus (crossed eyes), please visit a medical facility to be examined by a specialist and receive effective treatment advice.
Thuy An
Source link
Comment (0)