QUESTION: We have got a young one whose eye turns in.
It doesn't seem to trouble her, she sees good, and doesn't have any pain that we can tell.
We have heard tell that this condition will get better by itself.
Do you think there is anything we have to do to fix it?
ANSWER: You have described a condition that doctors call "strabismus" and that some people call "crossed eyes".
It happens when the two eyes point in different directions, and is a common condition in that about 4% of children suffer with the problem.
It takes six muscles attached to each eye to control all their movements, and when they don't work together, strabismus is the result.
Unless both eyes do work together, humans lose the ability to see in three dimensions; they lose depth perception.
With each eye seeing a different picture, the patient sees double, and soon stops using one eye, which becomes weaker and maybe permanently damaged.
This condition is known as "amblyopia".
The fact is that there are many causes for strabismus, and it is important to determine the cause and correct it quickly.
The longer you wait, that harder it is to get the eyes straightened out.
One thing for sure, the condition will NOT go away by itself, as children do not outgrow strabismus.
It really is important to have the child checked now by your family doctor or eye doctor.
It is never too early.
Their goal will be to straighten out the eyes and restore vision to both of them.
There are several ways this may be accomplished, the treatment depending upon the cause. Glasses may be part of the answer, and patching the strong eye may be useful. Surgery may be needed, and there are times when both eyes may require the operation.
And there are even circumstances where more than one operation is needed to achieve that final, wished for outcome.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
