Strabismus and Amblyopia
What are Strabismus and Amblyopia?
Strabismus is also known as “lazy eye” or “cross eyed”. Strabismus is a term for when both eyes don’t work together causing one eye to be turned in a different direction relative to the other eye. The eye turn can be constant, intermittent, or alternating. Strabismus is more common in children but can be acquired later on in life as well.
Misalignment of the eyes at a young age may also lead to permanently reduced vision, known as amblyopia. Amblyopia can also be present even if the eyes are well-aligned, such as in the case where there is a large prescription difference (refractive difference) between the two eyes. If diagnosed early, strabismus and amblyopia can be treated to improve vision.
Pseudostrabismus is when a child’s eyes appear crossed due to a broad nose. Most children will outgrow the appearance of pseudostrabismus as they get older. There are multiple ways to manage and treat strabismus through glasses, vision therapy, and surgery. Early treatment of strabismus and amblyopia will provide the best outcome and vision.