PEDIATRIC STRABISMUS

When the eyes are misaligned and not in the proper position, the condition is termed “strabismus”.  You, or your pediatrician may be concerned that your child’s eyes are not straight, and this is the most common reason for a referral to our practice.

 

PSEUDOSTRABISMUS

Fortunately, many children who appear to have misaligned eyes actually have straight eyes.  Some children appear to be crossed due to a wide nasal bridge, while s/he is actually straight.  

 

EVALUATION BY EXPERIENCED PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

If your child is diagnosed with strabismus (misaligned eyes), then our ophthalmologists (Drs. Rousta, Engel, and Sun) will determine the best therapy for your child.  Many times conservative therapy, such as glasses alone, will correct the misalignment.  Sometimes the misalignment is a sign of an underlying neurological or medical problem which needs to be addressed.  As attending physicians in the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Children’s Hospital at Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, The Children's Hospital at St. Peter's University Hospital, and the world renowned Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, we have access to the very best specialists and facilities to treat the underlying problem

 

CONSERVATIVE BUT INNOVATIVE

If surgery is necessary to correct the misalignment, Drs. Rousta, Engel and Sun are conservative but innovative in their approach.  They will give your child the best chance of a successful outcome with the least invasive procedure possible.  This includes frequently not “jumping in” too early and timing the surgery so that the condition does not reoccur when the child is older.

 

ADJUSTABLE SUTURES

UCEC is known for its innovative techniques in correcting strabismus.  This includes the use of adjustable sutures, which gives “a second chance” at obtaining perfection. Many of these techniques were developed by Dr. Engel and Dr. Rousta.  For more information on adjustable sutures, click here. 

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BOTULINUM TOXIN

This also includes using botulinum toxin for a certain types of misalignment which has the advantage of being much less invasive than surgery.  For more information on Botox for strabismus, please click here.