Strabismus: symptoms - causes and treatment

Strabismus or ophthalmic strabismus is a condition in which the two axes of vision in both eyes do not meet at one point, It may appear when looking forward or to the sides and maybe a permanent or changing state at different times.

• Strabismus shapes

A distinction is usually made between two basic forms:

• • Comorbid amblyopia.
  • It is the case in which the angle, that is, the extent of the deviation of the eye, is constant in all directions of view.

• Asynchronous strabismus

A condition in which the angle varies according to the direction of vision, this form may result from paralysis of one or more of the muscles that control eye movements.

The direction of the deviation of the eye determines the type and shape of the Strabismus:

• • In the case of kissing internal or medial, the eye deviates inward towards the nose.
  • In the case of amblyopia, that is, the external or the lateral, the deviation of the eye is outward towards the ear.
  • In the case that is homogeneous upward, the deviation of the eye is upward.
  • In the case of the lower strabismus, that is, the homogeneous squint downward, the deviation of the eye is downward.

It may appear around the eyes at all age stages, although most cases appear in childhood, the internal strabismus in children appears in the first months of the child's life, and the adaptive medial strabismus arises at the age of between two and three years and is caused by farsightedness.

Strabismus that appears with age is called acquired, Some of these causes are the result of poor vision in one or both eyes.

• Strabismus causes and risk factors

Causes of amblyopia include the following:

• • Double vision in one eye.
  • Cerebral Palsy.
  • Down's syndrome.
  • Hydrocephalus is a congenital disease that results in fluid buildup in the brain.
  • Brain tumors;
  • Brain attack.

• Strabismus complications

Around the eyes leads to disturbance of vision in both eyes as a disturbance in-depth vision and sometimes leads to diplopia, ie double vision. Therefore, they cause an aesthetic disturbance in the appearance of the face and sometimes secondary psychological disturbances.

• Strabismus diagnosis

Amblyopia is diagnosed during an eye examination. An examination of the eyes and vision must be performed in the pediatrician's office at each visit to the child's health, but in the event of complaints of strabismus symptoms or other eye disorders at any age, a full eye examination must be performed by an ophthalmologist.

 

How to treat amblyopia?

Methods of treating amblyopia can include the installation of eyeglasses, in general, to modify and repair the condition of hyperopia, and sometimes surgery may be required on the muscles of the eyes. Repair around the eyes by surgery based mainly on:

• Weakening the ability of the muscle to tighten by putting it back on the eyeball.
• Reducing the muscle and thus enhancing its ability to attract.
• There is a modern treatment method based on Botox injections, but this method is effective only in simple cases.

 

Simple strabismus treatment

Simple strabismus treatment requires the intervention of an ophthalmologist like other types, but it is worth noting that the term is not a scientific or medical term, but rather a description used by ophthalmologists to simplify and explain the degree in the patient during the medical examination of the eyes and conduct tests to determine the type and the degree. Therefore, simple strabismus is the degree, which may range between 10 to 15 degrees, and it is not a type of strabismus, but before addressing how to treat it, it is necessary to identify the disease around the eye first.  

How to treat simple amblyopia?

• The treatment actually begins after your ophthalmologist makes sure that there are no symptoms associated with the strabismus that you suffer from and that it is the only symptom that your eyes suffer from, as the squint may be one of the symptoms of some eye or brain tumors.
• Then he determines the type and degree, and the squint is considered simple if it is up to 15 degrees.
• It can be treated by wearing eyeglasses or prescription contact lenses.

Strabismus treatment includes different treatment options, and they must be considered by a specialist ophthalmologist in an individual manner tailored to each case. For the treatment to be effective, it must be applied. It can be treated through several therapeutic means. Some cases may be treated by persevering with some visual exercises, and others require treating the causes first.  

What are the symptoms and signs of strabismus in children?

It is normal that the eyes in newborns move each of them independently of the other, but at the age of 3-4 months, the eyes develop so that the child can focus on the same thing with both eyes without deviation. If it is noticed that the child cannot focus on the same thing with both eyes or the direction of the eyes to two different directions at the same time, a specialist ophthalmologist should be consulted to diagnose the child.  

How is amblyopia treated in children?

The treatment of strabismus in children varies from one child to another, and this depends on several things determined by the ophthalmologist, including the age of the child, the cause and severity of the disease. The most important treatment methods used in the following lines:

• Eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Eye drops.
• Eye exercises.
• Covering the healthy eye to strengthen the eye muscles around.
• The operation to fix amblyopia.

 

Magrabi’s advice

Strabismus treatment includes different treatment options, and they must be considered by a specialist ophthalmologist in an individual manner tailored to each case, For the treatment to be effective, it must be applied.