Strabismus is the medical term for crossed eyes, when both eyes do not align properly. In some cases, one eye appears straight and the other does not, while in other cases, both eyes are affected. Strabismus is quite common, affecting around 5% of children.
Strabismus is the medical term for crossed eyes, when both eyes do not align properly. In some cases, one eye appears straight and the other does not, while in other cases, both eyes are affected. Strabismus is quite common, affecting around 5% of children.
When should strabismus be treated?
Babies can appear to have crossed eyes and grow out of it around 3-4 months. This is because their eye muscles are still weak, and they have trouble focusing. For example, you might notice one or both eyes veering more when the baby is tired. So, we always want to wait at least 4 months to consider treatment.
Beyond this point, strabismus will likely need to be corrected. It often causes double vision, which is problematic already, but as a child grows, the brain will learn to ignore the divergent eye’s image, resulting in diminished vision in that eye. This is called amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye. The earlier strabismus is detected and treated, the better.
What should I do if my child has crossed eyes?
The first step should be to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an exam. (The difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist is that the latter can perform surgery.) We also want to reassure you that strabismus is nothing to worry about. There is much that can be done to treat crossed eyes.
How is strabismus treated?
In some cases, strabismus can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or prism lenses (prism lenses can help align the eyes by redirecting the direction of light entering the eye).
Vision therapy may be another option, where the divergent eye is exercised under the supervision of an optometrist in order to strengthen the surrounding muscles, improving alignment of the eyes. Sometimes the dominant eye will need to be covered with a patch in order to strengthen the weaker eye’s muscles and improve both alignment and vision.
Some cases require eye muscle surgery to correct the alignment of the divergent eye. If your doctor recommends surgery because your child’s vision is heavily impacted by strabismus, you may wish to fill out an application to be treated at Little Baby Face Foundation.
We are a non-profit organization that provides top quality treatment to children born with facial birth defects free of cost. We receive many applications, so we recommend filling out your application as soon as you get a diagnosis. The application process can take 8-12 weeks.
Babies can appear to have crossed eyes and grow out of it around 3-4 months. This is because their eye muscles are still weak, and they have trouble focusing. For example, you might notice one or both eyes veering more when the baby is tired. So, we always want to wait at least 4 months to consider treatment.
Beyond this point, strabismus will likely need to be corrected. It often causes double vision, which is problematic already, but as a child grows, the brain will learn to ignore the divergent eye’s image, resulting in diminished vision in that eye. This is called amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye. The earlier strabismus is detected and treated, the better.
What should I do if my child has crossed eyes?
The first step should be to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an exam. (The difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist is that the latter can perform surgery.) We also want to reassure you that strabismus is nothing to worry about. There is much that can be done to treat crossed eyes.
How is strabismus treated?
In some cases, strabismus can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or prism lenses (prism lenses can help align the eyes by redirecting the direction of light entering the eye).
Vision therapy may be another option, where the divergent eye is exercised under the supervision of an optometrist in order to strengthen the surrounding muscles, improving alignment of the eyes. Sometimes the dominant eye will need to be covered with a patch in order to strengthen the weaker eye’s muscles and improve both alignment and vision.
Some cases require eye muscle surgery to correct the alignment of the divergent eye. If your doctor recommends surgery because your child’s vision is heavily impacted by strabismus, you may wish to fill out an application to be treated at Little Baby Face Foundation.
We are a non-profit organization that provides top quality treatment to children born with facial birth defects free of cost. We receive many applications, so we recommend filling out your application as soon as you get a diagnosis. The application process can take 8-12 weeks.
When should strabismus be treated?
Babies can appear to have crossed eyes and grow out of it around 3-4 months. This is because their eye muscles are still weak, and they have trouble focusing. For example, you might notice one or both eyes veering more when the baby is tired. So, we always want to wait at least 4 months to consider treatment.
Beyond this point, strabismus will likely need to be corrected. It often causes double vision, which is problematic already, but as a child grows, the brain will learn to ignore the divergent eye’s image, resulting in diminished vision in that eye. This is called amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye. The earlier strabismus is detected and treated, the better.
What should I do if my child has crossed eyes?
The first step should be to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an exam. (The difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist is that the latter can perform surgery.) We also want to reassure you that strabismus is nothing to worry about. There is much that can be done to treat crossed eyes.
How is strabismus treated?
In some cases, strabismus can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or prism lenses (prism lenses can help align the eyes by redirecting the direction of light entering the eye).
Vision therapy may be another option, where the divergent eye is exercised under the supervision of an optometrist in order to strengthen the surrounding muscles, improving alignment of the eyes. Sometimes the dominant eye will need to be covered with a patch in order to strengthen the weaker eye’s muscles and improve both alignment and vision.
Some cases require eye muscle surgery to correct the alignment of the divergent eye. If your doctor recommends surgery because your child’s vision is heavily impacted by strabismus, you may wish to fill out an application to be treated at Little Baby Face Foundation.
We are a non-profit organization that provides top quality treatment to children born with facial birth defects free of cost. We receive many applications, so we recommend filling out your application as soon as you get a diagnosis. The application process can take 8-12 weeks.
Babies can appear to have crossed eyes and grow out of it around 3-4 months. This is because their eye muscles are still weak, and they have trouble focusing. For example, you might notice one or both eyes veering more when the baby is tired. So, we always want to wait at least 4 months to consider treatment.
Beyond this point, strabismus will likely need to be corrected. It often causes double vision, which is problematic already, but as a child grows, the brain will learn to ignore the divergent eye’s image, resulting in diminished vision in that eye. This is called amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye. The earlier strabismus is detected and treated, the better.
What should I do if my child has crossed eyes?
The first step should be to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an exam. (The difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist is that the latter can perform surgery.) We also want to reassure you that strabismus is nothing to worry about. There is much that can be done to treat crossed eyes.
How is strabismus treated?
In some cases, strabismus can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or prism lenses (prism lenses can help align the eyes by redirecting the direction of light entering the eye).
Vision therapy may be another option, where the divergent eye is exercised under the supervision of an optometrist in order to strengthen the surrounding muscles, improving alignment of the eyes. Sometimes the dominant eye will need to be covered with a patch in order to strengthen the weaker eye’s muscles and improve both alignment and vision.
Some cases require eye muscle surgery to correct the alignment of the divergent eye. If your doctor recommends surgery because your child’s vision is heavily impacted by strabismus, you may wish to fill out an application to be treated at Little Baby Face Foundation.
We are a non-profit organization that provides top quality treatment to children born with facial birth defects free of cost. We receive many applications, so we recommend filling out your application as soon as you get a diagnosis. The application process can take 8-12 weeks.
If your child was born with Strabismus and you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.
If your child was born with Strabismus and you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.