ADULT STRABISMUS
Strabismus is a medical term that describes misalignment of the eyes. It is also known by various other names: squint, cross-eyes, or wandering eye.
Strabismus is as common in adults as children, affecting approximately 4% of adults.
Adults with strabismus mainly fall into two groups:
Those who had strabismus as children,
before reaching visual maturity. These adults may not have received the appropriate treatment or correction when they were young. Alternatively, they may have received correction as children, but their strabismus has recurred.
Those who developed strabismus as adults.
In this group, strabismus is commonly caused by trauma or injury, stroke, brain tumors, cranial nerve palsies, thyroid disease, or eye surgery for other problems. In some patients, there is no identifiable cause. These patients may experience frequent or constant double vision.
What are the symptoms of adult strabismus?
Adults may experience eye fatigue, double vision (diplopia), overlapping or blurred images (visual confusion), pulling sensation around the eyes, reading difficulty, and/or loss of depth perception. This may impair everyday activities, such as driving.
To correct the misalignment in their eyes, many adults may tilt or turn their heads when focusing. It is also difficult to make direct eye contact with both eyes when looking at people, which can affect social interactions and self confidence. Strabismus may also have a negative impact on employment and social opportunities.
For these many reasons, eye straightening treatment is not simply cosmetic. It is reconstructive with many functional benefits, such as restoration of normal eye alignment, improving binocularity, expanding peripheral visual fields, and providing a better quality of life.
To learn more about treatment options and the services we offer, please click here.