Strabismus
What is strabismus?
What is commonly called a squint is clinically termed strabismus, an eye misalignment. An inward and outward turn is the commonest presentation in children and adults. A vertical misalignment can also occur, resulting in a compensatory head posture as this helps to retain single vision.
What is the impact of strabismus on vision?
Visual consequences differ for children and adults.
In children, if the turn favours one eye, a drop in vision can occur resulting in a lazy eye (amblyopia). The critical period of vision development occurs up to age seven so the sooner this is picked up and treated, the better.
Children, fortunately, can ignore double vision as their amazing and rapidly developing brains have a compensatory mechanism called ‘suppression’.
Adults however do not tend to have such luck and most commonly will see double and adopt a head posture to adapt to this. This can make driving and living understandably, quite tricky!
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Treatment for strabismus
In children, the priority is to promote visual development and realign the eye. This can be done with a combination of patching treatment, glasses, and surgery.
In adults, the goal is eliminating the troublesome double vision through the use of prisms or surgery.
At EyeHub, we highly recommend this useful parental resource for paediatric strabismus: American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus. For adult strabismus follow this link: Adult Strabismus (Eye Misalignment) – American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. For more information on kids eye patches, visit Speckles or Kids Eye Gear.
You can find out more information about paediatric and adult strabismus, along with links to help with purchasing kids eye patches on our Resources page, or you can get in touch with the team at EyeHub today.
For a personalised consult for yourself or your child, get in touch with the team at EyeHub today.
Book AppointmentStrabismus surgery for Sunshine Coast locals
Here at EyeHub, we understand the utmost importance of vision for you and your child.
Lead ophthalmologist, Dr Sonia Moorthy, has years of experience in managing paediatric and adult strabismus. Dr Moorthy will take the time support you through your strabismus journey—so that you can make an informed decision about your strabismus management needs.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers to your questions about strabismus and paediatric appointments
What is strabismus?
Strabismus is a condition where a child’s eyes are misaligned, with one or both eyes pointing in different directions. It can occur intermittently or constantly and may affect vision development.
What causes strabismus in children?
Causes include genetic factors, improper functioning of eye muscles, refractive errors, premature birth, neurological conditions, or other medical conditions like Down’s syndrome or cerebral palsy.
At what age does strabismus typically appear in children?
Strabismus can appear at any age but is most commonly diagnosed in infants and young children, often by the age of three.
How can I tell if my child has strabismus?
Signs include visible eye misalignment, squinting or closing one eye, head tilting, trouble focusing, or difficulty with depth perception. A paediatric eye exam can confirm the diagnosis.
Is strabismus in children treatable?
Yes, early treatment is highly effective. Options include glasses, patching, vision therapy, or surgery to correct muscle alignment—depending on the cause and severity.
What happens if strabismus is left untreated?
If untreated, it can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye), poor depth perception, and long-term vision problems, as the brain may suppress input from the misaligned eye.
Can strabismus correct itself as a child grows?
In rare cases, mild intermittent strabismus in infants may resolve on its own. However, persistent or worsening cases require medical intervention.
Is strabismus hereditary in children?
Yes, a family history of strabismus increases a child’s risk. Parents with the condition should have their children screened early.
How is strabismus treated without surgery?
Non-surgical treatments include corrective glasses, prisms, eye patching to strengthen the weaker eye, and vision therapy exercises to improve coordination.
When is surgery necessary for strabismus?
Surgery is recommended if non-surgical methods fail to correct the alignment, or if the condition is severe and affecting vision or quality of life.
