Between the ages of 1 and 4, some children may develop crossed eyes. This is clinically known as strabismus. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, about 2% to 4% of children in the U.S. are afflicted with the condition.
Crossed Eyes
Strabismus occurs when the eyes don’t line up properly and can point in different directions. Most children are diagnosed in those three years, and it’s rare that it occurs after 6 years old, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
“When eyes don’t line up together, the straight or straighter eye becomes dominant,” according to Nemours KidsHealth. “The vision strength of this eye stays normal because the eye and its connection to the brain are working as they should. The misaligned or weaker eye, though, doesn’t focus as it should and its connection to the brain doesn’t form correctly.”
Types of Crossed Eyes in Children
NEMOURS REPORTS THAT THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF STRABISMUS:
- Inward (called esotropia or “cross-eyed”)
- Outward (exotropia)
- Up (hypertropia)
- Down (hypotropia)
Causes of strabismus include nearsighted or farsighted vision, premature birth, neurological disorders and Down syndrome, or it may occur for no reason at all, said the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Strabismus can be obvious in a child or sometimes not at all. Nemours reports that “most kids with strabismus don’t complain of eye problems or notice changes in their vision. Usually, it’s a family member, teacher, or health care provider who notices that the eyes are not straight. [Vision problems caused by strabismus] can affect reading skills and classroom learning. Younger kids who aren’t talking yet may squint a lot and turn or tilt their heads in an attempt to see more clearly.” A simple eye exam by a pediatrician can assess whether a child is suffering from strabismus, and they may order a full exam from a pediatric ophthalmologist.
Strabismus Treatment
TREATMENT FOR STRABISMUS VARIES WITH EACH PATIENT AND CAN INCLUDE:
- Eyeglasses: These can be used in some cases of strabismus especially “if a child’s vision is blurry due to nearsightedness or farsightedness [where] they may have to strain to see clearly,” according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
- Patching or eye drops: Patching the stronger eye can help to improve the child’s weaker eye. “Getting a baby or toddler to accept wearing an eye patch can be a challenge. But most kids get used to the patch. Wearing it becomes part of their daily routine, like getting dressed in the morning,” according to Nemours. If the patch is not tolerated, eye drops can mimic this action. Nemours reports that drops “temporarily blur out vision in that eye. This makes the weaker eye work harder so that eye muscles and vision get stronger.”
- Surgery: When strabismus doesn’t respond to the above treatments, the child may be suffering from a severe form of the condition where surgery is needed. “Eye muscle surgery is typically needed to straighten the eyes and prevent vision loss when other interventions don’t work,” according to Boston Children’s Hospital. “The surgery involves detaching the muscle or muscles that is causing misalignment and reattaching it or them to a new spot.”
Parents should always consult their pediatrician who can refer them to the correct specialists that can help children who may be suffering from strabismus.
“Strabismus usually can be fixed when found and treated early,” according to Nemours. “If it’s not treated, the brain eventually will ignore the visual images of the weaker eye. This change — called amblyopia, or ‘lazy eye’ — can make vision blurry, cause double vision and harm a child’s depth perception. These problems can become permanent if they’re not treated.”
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