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Pediatric Strabismus FAQs

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Strabismus

Strabismus (pronounced struh-BIZ-muss) is any misalignment of the eyes. If the eyes are turned inward, it is commonly known as being cross-eyed or having crossed eyes. Strabismus is the medical term for being cross-eyed. Some strabismus is visible at all times, while other strabismus is “intermittent” and only visible intermittently.

Yes. Misaligned eyes, known as strabismus, are considered to be a risk factor for amblyopia, the leading cause of vision loss among children and young adults. For normal vision to occur, both eyes need to aim at the same spot, and the brain then combines the images from each eye into a single, three-dimensional image. Eye misalignment can cause amblyopia, or lazy eye, in children because the brain can’t properly merge the two images into a single image and learns to ignore or discard the image from the misaligned eye. Strabismus may result in “double vision,” meaning the brain doesn’t discard the second image.

About 4% of the U.S. population has strabismus, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

Strabismus is typically identified or named according to the direction in which the eyes are misaligned. If one eye or both eyes are turned inward – more commonly described as being “cross-eyed,” the medical term is esotropia, sometimes also called being “wall-eyed.” Strabismus can also be a result of vertical misalignment of the eyes. Hypertropia is defined as when the abnormal eye is higher than the normal eye, and hypotropia is when the abnormal eye is lower than the normal eye.

Not necessarily. If a child has severe misalignment, it generally will be visible to a parent that the child is cross-eyed or wall-eyed, or sometimes parents might notice that their child is squinting one eye when they are outside in the sunlight or they may notice that one eye looks askew in a photograph. Less severe misalignment, also sometimes called microstrabismus, may not be detected unless the child undergoes a vision screening with a photoscreening device or other instrument that can detect more subtle misalignment or is examined by an eye care professional. Strabismus can only be diagnosed by an eye care professional.


Yes. Pediatric vision screening, or vision testing, using instrument-based vision screening such as the iScreen Vision Screener 3000 photoscreener, can screen for strabismus and determine if a referral to an eye care professional is necessary.If you are performing vision screening specifically to determine if a child has strabismus, this type of vision screening may be called Strabismus Vision Screening, Strabismus Vision Testing, Pediatric Strabismus Vision Screening, Pediatric Strabismus Vision Testing, Cross Eyed Vision Screening, or Cross Eyed Vision Testing, Esotropia Vision Screening, Esotropia Vision Testing, Exotropia Vision Screening or Exotropia Vision Testing.

Strabismus typically results from abnormal control of eye movement or a problem with eye muscles themselves. There are six eye muscles in each eye that control eye movement. One muscle moves the eye to the right, another to the left. The other four muscles move it up or down or at an angle. For proper focus, the muscles need to be able to work together or in a coordinated fashion to focus both eyes on an object. Inability to control these muscles properly may be related to a problem with the brain or a defect in the muscles.

Yes. Strabismus can develop in normal children, but it is more common among children who suffer from disorders that affect the brain such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.

Yes. One of the leading causes of strabismus in adults is a stroke. Other common causes of strabismus include trauma, which can damage the part of the brain or the nerves that controls eye movement or or can damage eye muscles; neurological problems; and Graves disease, which is an eye disorder related to the thyroid.(thyroid eye disorders) are other common causes of strabismus.

Yes, eye care professionals use different methods to improve eye alignment and to get both eyes working together correctly for improved vision. These methods may include eye glasses or exercises or surgical solutions.

Pseuodstrabismus is when infant or young child’s eyes may appear to be crossed, but in reality they are not. This condition typically in children with a wide, flat nose and a fold of skin at the inner eyelid, which can make it seem that their eyes are crossed. If you aren’t sure whether your child has true strabismus or pseudostrabismus, you should visit a pediatric ophthalmologist.

If a surgical solution is an option, an ophthalmologist makes a small incision in the tissue covering the eye to gain access to the eye muscles, and then detaches and repositions the eye muscles in order to correct the orientation of the abnormal eye.

Pediatric Strabismus Vision Screening & Detection
These FAQs discuss topics including: Strabismus (also known as being Cross Eyed or having Crossed Eyes), Strabismus Vision Screening, Strabismus Vision Testing, Pediatric Strabismus Vision Screening, Pediatric Strabismus Vision Testing, Cross Eyed Vision Screening, Cross Eyed Vision Testing, Esotropia Vision Screening, Esotropia Vision Testing, Exotropia Vision Screening, Exotropia Vision Testing.

Pediatric Strabismus Vision Screening & Detection
These FAQs discuss topics including: Strabismus (also known as being Cross Eyed or having Crossed Eyes), Strabismus Vision Screening, Strabismus Vision Testing, Pediatric Strabismus Vision Screening, Pediatric Strabismus Vision Testing, Cross Eyed Vision Screening, Cross Eyed Vision Testing, Esotropia Vision Screening, Esotropia Vision Testing, Exotropia Vision Screening, Exotropia Vision Testing.