Strabismus is misalignment of the eyes, where they do not point in the same direction. It can be constant or intermittent and occur at any age.
Types and consequences
Direction and cause vary widely.
- Esotropia inward turn, exotropia outward, hypertropia vertical, or combined deviations
- In children, risk of amblyopia and loss of depth perception
- In adults, double vision and social or cosmetic concerns
- Can result from refractive error, muscle imbalance, neurological disease, or trauma
Treatment
Management aims to align the eyes and optimise visual function.
- Glasses, particularly for accommodative esotropia
- Patching or penalisation for amblyopia
- Prism glasses or strabismus surgery when misalignment persists
- Ongoing follow-up to monitor development and control
