Strabismus in children

Strabismus is a visual defect, not a disease, in which either eye is deviated from its normal direction . Better known as crossed eyes, strabismus affects both adults and children, although depending on the type we suffer from, it is more common to occur at one age or another. This vision problem can appear from six months of life, during childhood and even in adulthood.

Although this visual defect can occur for different causes, the most common are, on the one hand, poor brain control in the muscles that work together so that our eyes are aligned . In this case, two different images are sent to the brain, one from each eye, causing the brain to become confused. On the other hand, another cause that can cause strabismus is the association with a refractive element,as for example it occurs in the case of suffering from hyperopia. When there is a case of crossed eyes in childhood, in most cases the causes for which the child suffers from strabismus are unknown and they usually occur just at birth or a few months of life. It is very important that if we notice the slightest symptom in children of suffering from strabismus, we go to the doctor, because on many occasions it can be treated and make it disappear, if we catch it in time.

SYMPTOMS OF STRABISMUS IN CHILDREN

Newborns, on certain occasions, can show a deviation in the eyes but this is quite normal , since it is in this period when the eye muscles begin to form and strengthen, so we should not be alarmed if our baby has the look averted at specific moments. But if this persists and when the baby turns four months it continues with crossed eyes, it is time to act, since it is in that period when it should already be able to fix objects and keep its eyes fixed.

In the case of children suffering from strabismus, the most common symptoms are the following:

– Crossed eyes.

– Eyes that are not able to look in the same direction .

– Vision in one eye . Although only 30% of children with strabismus lose vision in one eye completely. This is also called a lazy eye, and this happens because the brain, as a defense mechanism, only begins to receive the image provided by the dominant eye.

– Torticollis. Although it seems that it does not make sense, the child who suffers from vertical strabismus chooses to maintain a neck position that is quite harmful to the neck, which is why he can develop torticollis.

Problems in school performance can be a warning that our son suffers from strabismus, since he has problems fixing his vision on the blackboard and therefore, he is not able to follow the natural rhythm that his teacher is setting.

TREATMENT FOR STRABISMUS IN CHILDREN

When children begin a treatment against strabismus, what is sought with it is to achieve better visual acuity and that the eyes are aligned so that the deviation is less appreciated and the child has a better physical appearance, since this can cause some than other complex. That is why it is essential to diagnose it as soon as possible and start treatment quickly.

The treatment of strabismus in children consists of the use of special glasses and the practice of some exercises that will favor the strengthening of the eye muscle, which can improve considerably. In the event that this treatment does not work, surgery can be chosen, but it will not be until the age of 3 when the child can undergo this type of operation, although in the case that the strabismus is born, the child may be operated on before this is one year old.