JAKARTA - Strabismus, or strabismus in medical terms, is a condition where both eyes do not move in the same direction.
As a result, a person's vision can be impaired, leading to other problems such as lazy eye (amblyopia). If left untreated, this condition can certainly affect the sufferer's quality of life.
Causes of Strabismus
According to the EMC Hospital website, strabismus occurs because the muscles that move the eyeballs are not working in balance. This imbalance can be caused by problems with the eye muscles, nerves, and even the brain that controls eye movement.
In children, several factors that can increase the risk of strabismus include:
- A family history of a similar condition.
- Vision disorders such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
- Certain medical conditions such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.
- Premature birth.
- Certain infections that affect eye health.
In adults, the causes of strabismus can vary. Some common triggers include:
- Autoimmune diseases such as Graves' disease.
- Stroke or brain tumor.
- Diabetes affecting the optic nerve.
- Head or eye injury.
- Lazy eye that is not promptly treated.
Symptoms of Strabismus
People with strabismus generally show the following signs:
- Double vision.
- Misalignment of the eyes.
- A habit of tilting the head to see more clearly.
- Relying on only one eye when focusing on an object.
- Frequent squinting or excessive blinking.
- Fatigue when reading.
- Eye strain, including headaches.
Types of Strabismus
Strabismus has several types, depending on the direction of eye movement:
- Esotropia: The eyeball turns inward, pointing toward the nose. Commonly occurs in infants and children.
- Exotropia: The eyeball moves outward or toward the ear. Can occur in both children and adults.
- Hypertropia: One eye is positioned higher than the other.
- Hypotropia: One eye turns downward, which can occur continuously or occasionally.
How to Treat Strabismus
Treatment for strabismus varies depending on the severity and cause. Some common treatments doctors use include:
- Occlusion therapy (covering the healthy eye)
The goal is to train the weaker eye to work better. This is usually performed on people with mild esotropia or exotropia.
- Wearing glasses
Glasses can help the eyes focus better and work more evenly.
- Botox injections
Botox can be injected into the eye muscles to help straighten the eyeballs. The effects can be temporary or permanent, depending on the patient's condition.
- Surgery
If other treatments are unsuccessful, surgery may be an option. This procedure aims to restore the eye muscles to normal movement.
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