Strabismus

Strabismus

Strabismus is a condition which occurs when the eyes are out of alignment. It is often caused by a problem with neuromuscular control of eye movement involving the brain/nerves that control the eye muscles. Less frequently, this misalignment results from one of the eye muscles being too short. This shortness can result from scar tissue resulting from inflammation associated with Graves’ ophthalmology. The condition may coincide with double vision and is often more frequently found in children.

Strabismus can be treated with a variety of methods. These include glasses, prisms, patching, vision, therapy, or surgery. Prisms and surgery are discussed below.

Prisms

Prisms are special lenses that can help reduce double vision and improve eye alignment. They may be may pasted on or permanently ground into lenses. This method of correcting strabismus may not work for all patient with double vision. Sometimes eye muscle surgery is a more effective treatment.

Eye Muscle Surgery

Eye muscle surgery is often the most efficient way to treat strabismus particularly when non-surgical methods are not correcting misalignment. The surgery involves adjusting the length of the eye muscles to realign the eye. The muscles are cut from its attachment to the eyeball and reattached further back. Usually, this is an outpatient procedure and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital.