Strabismus

The most extreme form of binocular vision loss, i.e., a lack of coordination between the two eyes. This results in an involuntary deviation of one of the two eyes in a certain direction, either constantly or intermittently.

Have you ever noticed that someone's eyes don't look exactly in the same place? It's as if one eye decides to wander off on its own, drifting in a different direction than the other. It can be inward, outward, upward, or downward. And the most curious thing is that this deviation can be constant—it's always there!—or intermittent—it appears and disappears!

Normally, when an eye wanders, the brain suppresses or cancels out information coming from that eye. This is why it often becomes lazy, which is what we call amblyopia or lazy eye !   Why does this happen? To prevent us from seeing double!

But if the brain doesn't cancel out the image from the deviated eye, then we do see double! This is called diplopia , and it can be very annoying and confusing!

Most of the time it's not a matter of "strong or weak muscles"... it's a matter of "conducting an orchestra"!  

Typically , the problem is that the two eyes never learned to work together as a well-coordinated team. It's as if the brain doesn't know how to give the correct commands to get both eyes to point in the same direction.

Through Therapy   o Visual rehabilitation helps improve the sensory part so that the brain sees with both eyes coordinated at the same time and corrects, as far as possible, eye deviation.

Vision therapy to the rescue! Training the brain to make the eyes work as a team

This is where vision therapy comes in. Through personalized exercises and activities, we help improve this sensory component, teaching the brain to see with both eyes at the same time. It's like training them to coordinate and work as a team. And with this training, we can often correct, or at least significantly improve, the eye deviation. It's as if we were putting the eyes back on the same television channel.

What if the deviation is very large? Sometimes surgery is necessary!

In some cases, despite vision therapy, it's not possible to completely correct the deviation. This is when surgery may be considered! However, surgery in these cases primarily focuses on correcting the deviation aesthetically, so the eyes appear aligned!

Important! Vision therapy before surgery: a "dress rehearsal" for success!

This is crucial! Whenever surgery for strabismus is considered, it is highly recommended that the patient has previously undergone a vision therapy program. Why? Because the therapy helps prepare the brain to use both eyes together after surgery! It's like a "dress rehearsal" to give the surgery a better chance of long-term success!

Good visual development is key!

Vision is much more than simply "seeing."   Vision constitutes a whole series of learning processes and skills that develop from the first day of a child's life. These visual skills play a critical role in their entire development process. Therefore, it is essential that we strive to provide the best possible conditions for our little ones' vision to develop fully and healthily. Eyes that work well together are a great advantage for learning and exploring the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Strabismus

1. What exactly is strabismus? Strabismus is a condition in which one eye involuntarily deviates in a different direction than the other. This deviation can be constant or occur occasionally.
2. Why does strabismus occur? Is it a muscular problem? In most cases, strabismus isn't a problem with the strength of the eye muscles, but rather a lack of coordination between the two eyes and how the brain learns to control them to work together.
3. What is "lazy eye" or amblyopia, and how does it relate to strabismus? "Lazy eye" or amblyopia occurs when the brain suppresses information from the deviated eye (in strabismus) to prevent double vision. If this occurs for a prolonged period, the suppressed eye may not develop good visual acuity and may become "lazy."
4. What is diplopia or double vision, and why does it occur in strabismus? Diplopia is double vision and occurs when the brain fails to suppress the image from the deviated eye in strabismus, receiving two different images of the same object.
5. How can vision therapy help treat strabismus? Vision therapy consists of a series of exercises and activities designed to improve eye coordination, strengthen eye muscles, and teach the brain to use both eyes simultaneously, helping to correct or improve the strabismus.
6. In what cases is strabismus surgery recommended? Strabismus surgery may be considered when vision therapy fails to fully correct the ocular deviation, primarily for cosmetic reasons to align the eyes.
7. Is vision therapy necessary before undergoing strabismus surgery? Yes, a vision therapy program is generally recommended before strabismus surgery to prepare the brain to use both eyes together after the procedure and increase the chances of long-term success.
8. Can strabismus affect a child's visual development? Absolutely! Strabismus can interfere with the normal development of binocular vision and depth perception, and, if left untreated, can lead to amblyopia.
9. At what age does strabismus usually appear? Strabismus can appear in early childhood, often before age 3, but it can also develop later in childhood or even in adulthood.
10. What should parents do if they suspect their child has strabismus? If parents notice their child's eyes are misaligned or that one of them is straying, it is essential that they consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist specializing in children's vision as soon as possible for a complete evaluation and accurate diagnosis. Early detection is key!