Early detection is key in child strabismus
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Child Strabismus is the loss of parallelism of the eyes. The deviation can be inward vertically (convergent strabismus), outward (divergent strabismus) or (up or down).
The cause of strabismus is multifactorial and still now know many of the triggers. What it does is certain is that about 97% are functional cause, ie without any organic brain injury. In the rest accompanying neurological, metabolic, vascular or malformativas central nervous system disease.
This condition can occur at any age. In most cases, child strabismus usually appears before the first birthday. Late strabismus, over three years, often due to uncorrected refractive problems (especially hyperopia). Once established, strabismus does not disappear spontaneously.
Childhood strabismus: Symptoms
The most apparent symptom is the deviation, which is the sign of alarm that requires parents to consult a specialist in Ophthalmology. However, the deviation brings a series of "no visible" consequences:
- Amblyopia, or lazy eye: the wandering eye is canceled for not seeing double.
- Loss of binocular vision and consequently stereopsis.
These alterations are more severe The earlier the age of onset of strabismus
You can prevent child strabismus?
Strabismus can not be prevented. However, early detection is very important to treat it as quickly as possible and try to reverse the consequences previously shown. In this regard, ophthalmologists receive great support from pediatricians who are those who have more continuous contact with the children, who are well aware of this condition and refer children to specialist promptly.
In any case, as a rule, all children (although parents will not notice anything) should be explored by an ophthalmologist in three years. In cases where there is a family history of strabismus or lazy eye, the review should be even earlier.
Treatment of childhood strabismus
There is no standard treatment for strabismus although you can establish a therapeutic algorithm. First, we must rule out refractive and if there is, prescribing corrective lenses is necessary.
If amblyopia, it must be treated by various methods available depending on the severity of it (occlusion, penalties, etc.). Finally, surgical intervention in all cases where a sufficiently significant deviation origine aesthetic defect is performed.
Treatment of strabismus is long and needs to be watched for many years. Unfortunately, surgery must be repeated in 30% of cases. The reason for this high number of failures is because the child's brain child suffering from strabismus do not always accept as good a position that is induced by surgery and tends to lead the eye back to the original position.
