ADULT STRABISMUS
Strabismus is a medical condition characterized by a misalignment of the eyes, sometimes referred to as a squint, cross-eyes, or a wandering eye. While it is often associated with children, strabismus is also relatively common in adults, affecting approximately 4% of the adult population. In many cases, adult strabismus can lead to symptoms such as double vision, eye strain, or difficulty with depth perception, and may develop as a new condition or persist from childhood.
Although UCEC specializes in pediatric eye care, the clinic also evaluates select adult patients with specific types of eye misalignment. Dr. Engel, Dr. Sun, and Dr. Rousta provide comprehensive assessments for adults experiencing double vision, those who may be candidates for strabismus surgery, or individuals referred by their ophthalmologist or optometrist for specialized care. For patients whose needs are primarily addressed with prism glasses or prism refraction, UCEC works closely with trusted local optometric partners who specialize in these services, ensuring each patient receives the most appropriate care for their condition.
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.
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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.