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What is strabismus?
The strabismus is a motor imbalance between the two eyes, so that each eye points to a different point in space.
The majority of strabismus arise in childhood, and can seriously affect vision if left untreated, being one of the main causes of amblyopia, or as it is commonly called "strabismus".lazy eye".
Some strabismus problems arise in adulthood, following certain diseases that affect the eye muscles, such as hyperthyroidism and accidents involving the head. Most strabismus in adults, however, is simply a continuation of their childhood problem.
Causes of strabismus
Although in some strabismus There is a neurological cause, such as cerebral palsy or Down's syndrome, but in the vast majority of them there is not. They tend to be grouped in families.
Most are essential, i.e. without known cause.
There are also accommodative strabismus, i.e. those that are corrected only with glasses.
Symptoms of strabismus and how to detect them
As the two eyes are not aligned, there is no fusion of the images from both eyes at the cerebral level, and therefore stereopsis, which allows us to see in three-dimensional space, is lost.
A series of defensive visual phenomena also appear. It is logical to think that if each eye looks at a different point, one should see double, but this does not occur in the majority of strabismus cases because a series of defensive mechanisms arise.
One of them is suppression, which is the inhibition of the vision of the deviated eye when we look with both eyes.
Another mechanism is abnormal retinal correspondence.
A lazy eye, or amblyopia, may also appear, as the brain chooses to see with the "good" or dominant eye, and increasingly relegates the "bad" or amblyopic eye.
Strabismus can sometimes go unnoticed by parents, but there are some signs that can help, such as frequent winking or tilting of the head. If in any doubt, it is important that the child is examined by an ophthalmologist to rule it out.
Strabismus in babies
Babies are maturing their neurological system, and sporadic eye twitching is normal up to the age of six months.
Some parents may confuse a strabismus with a false strabismus, like the baby in the figure, who appears to be turning inwards but is not actually turning.
Strabismus in children
Most strabismus occurs in young children.
Strabismus in adults
When strabismus appears in adulthood, double vision is often present, and it is necessary to rule out neurological problems that may cause paralysis of the muscles that move the eye.
Strabismus operation: Do all strabismus cases require surgery?
No, some are corrected with glasses and patches.
What is the ideal age for strabismus surgery?
Strabismus should be operated on once the lazy eye has been corrected and the child is sufficiently cooperative to make a surgical indication. Surgery does not correct either the lazy eye or the spectacle defect, only the deviation of the eyes.