Eye Muscle Imbalance or Cross Eyes is termed “Strabismus”
Eye muscle imbalance is a complex disorder. Strabismus is a visual problem in which the eyes are not aligned properly and point in different directions. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other eye turns inward, outward, upward, or downward. The eye turn may be consistent, or it may come and go. Which eye is straight (and which is misaligned) may switch or alternate.
Strabismus is a common condition among children. About 4 percent of all children in the United States have strabismus. It can also occur later in life. It may run in families; however, many people with strabismus have no relatives with the problem.
– It’s an imbalance in eye muscles that causes a horizontal or vertical misalignment
– Six muscles move the eye, and the various types of strabismus relate to the different muscles involved
– It prevents the eyes from simultaneously focusing on one object, so two conflicting images are sent to the brain at the same time
– Normally, both eyes focus on the same object and transmit only one image to the brain.
A child with strabismus may learn to ignore or suppress the image seen by the misaligned eye. The normal eye becomes dominant, while the misaligned eye develops reduced vision from lack of use. This loss of vision in one eye is called amblyopia, and approximately 50% of children with strabismus develop amblyopia. A Michigan lasik eye surgery specialist can be a useful resource for those looking for a consultation.
Treatment of Eye Muscle Imbalance
– Patching the stronger eye
– Eye exercises
– Medicated eye drops
– Eyeglasses
– Muscle surgery
Research has documented that 75% of patients with strabismus are corrected in one surgery, 90% with two surgeries and 98% with three surgeries. Muscle surgery can be performed on patients all the way through adulthood.
