An estimated 13 million people in the United States have strabismus. If your child has this eye condition, you may be wondering if there are corrective measures to help your child see better. Dr. Brecheen, OD, at Brecheen Learning and Vision Center, provides various options such as vision therapy to help correct strabismus. If you live in or around Dallas Fort Worth or Lewisville and your child is dealing with crossed eyes, contact our team at Brecheen Learning and Vision Center.
What is Strabismus?
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned. This means that one or both of your child's eyes may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward. These eye problems, known as ocular misalignments, can be caused by various factors including weak eye muscles and structural issues with the retina or optic nerve. If left untreated, these problems could lead to amblyopia, more commonly known as "lazy eye."
This condition occurs in infants and young children; however, it can also happen to adults due to certain conditions such as a stroke. There are different classifications of strabismus, they include:
- Esotropia (eye crossing) - This happens when one or both of the eyes turn inward toward the nose causing the child to have a crossed eye appearance.
- Exotropia (eye drifting) - This occurs when one or both eyes turn outward.
- Hypertropia - This occurs when one eye turns upwards compared to the other eye.
- Hypotropia - It occurs when one eye turns downwards when compared with the other eye.
Treatment Options for Strabismus
If you notice your child's eyes are turning, it is best to schedule an eye exam with our optometrist. Depending on the type of strabismus affecting your child, there are various treatment options available.
- Vision therapy - This helps strengthen the weaker eye muscle and teaches both eyes how to work together. It usually starts at a young age when the brain is more receptive to learning.
- Physical therapy - It uses special exercises and devices to strengthen the muscles that control eye movement.
- Surgical correction - This is done by the ophthalmologist. Surgery may involve removing or reattaching a muscle that has become weakened or lengthening an eye muscle that is too short.
Visit Brecheen Learning and Vision Center for Strabismus Correction
It is normal to be concerned when you or a loved one has eye misalignment issues. If you are looking for treatment options to correct this problem in the Dallas, Fort Worth, or Lewisville area, contact Dr. Brecheen, OD at Brecheen Learning and Vision Center to schedule a consultation. Call our team today at (972) 221-2564 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.