Crossed Eyes (Strabismus)

Crossed eyes (or strabismus) occur when a person’s eyes are not able to align on the same point at the same time, and appear to be misaligned or pointed in different directions.

Usually this results from weakness of the eye muscles. The weak eye will turn in toward the nose and away from the object that it is supposed to be focused on.

Crossed eyes develop most often in babies. With proper treatment, it is easier to correct the misalignment when caught early. In the initial stages, crossed eyes can cause disorientation or double vision because the eyes don't align together. A young child with strabismus will unconsciously reject the visuals of the improperly aligned eye and it results in the failure of the related nerve connections between their eye and brain. This can lead to the eye remaining permanently turned – known as amblyopia, or lazy eye.

What Causes Crossed Eyes?

A cataract is a cloudiness of the lens of the eye, which is supposed to be crystal clear. Imagine if the clear lens of your camera just turned white. That's basically a cataract. There are varied causes for crossed eyes and it is mostly hereditary. In some cases, it may be caused by severe farsightedness that has been left untreated. Significant head trauma may also cause crossed eyes, as it affects the portion of the brain that controls eye muscles.

Signs of Crossed Eyes:

The most obvious sign of crossed eyes is when the eyes appear to be pointed in different directions.
However, following are some signs of crossed eyes observed mostly in children:

• When eyes do not move together,
• Unsymmetrical points of reflection in each eye,
• Tilting the head to one side,
• Inability to gauge depth,
• Squinting with only one eye.

Treatments for Crossed Eyes

In order to improve vision, the weakened muscles in the affected eye or eyes must be put to work. Several treatments may be used alone or in combination, depending on the type, severity, and cause of strabismus, including:

• Eyeglasses or contact lenses – this may help people by correcting farsightedness,
• Injected medication –commonly known as Botox, it relaxes the contracted muscles in the eyes, making it easier for eyes to focus,
• Surgery – straightens and realigns muscles in the eyes,
• Patching or covering the better-seeing eye – similar to eye drops or ointment, this method works to strengthen the weakened eye.