Treating Strabismus in Children and Adults
Strabismus is a condition that affects approximately 3% to 5% of children. It can manifest a few months after birth (congenital or infantile strabismus), in slightly older children (childhood strabismus), or in adults. Nevertheless, in some cases, correcting strabismus and its consequences is possible.
General Examination in Children to Treat Strabismus
All children with possible signs of strabismus should be examined as soon as possible to prevent amblyopia. Regular general check-ups from a very young age will help detect problems and ensure the proper development of binocular vision. All children should be examined by an ophthalmologist with experience from the second or third year of age. This is the only way to prevent future problems and also to correct strabismus and its collateral issues.
What general tests are common for strabismus detection?
- General examination
- Cover test, to detect which eye is deviated and in which direction it deviates
- Study of ocular motility
- Refraction study: subjective if the child cooperates, and always objective using cycloplegia.
- Fundus examination.
Treatments for Strabismus in Children and Adults
Various techniques and therapies can be used to address strabismus, depending on the patient’s age. Common treatments include: the use of glasses or optical prisms, and occlusions with patches. In specific cases of strabismus, eye exercises, botulinum toxin, and surgery may be employed. Occlusion or patching the eye and wearing glasses are the most common therapies for children suffering from amblyopia or accommodative esotropia. During occlusion treatment, a patch is placed over the “good-seeing” eye. This forces the use of the strabismic eye for vision improvement. Occasionally, wearing glasses can reduce or eliminate the degree of strabismus simply by wearing them (accommodative strabismus).
Surgery to Treat Strabismus
In cases where surgery is still required to improve eye alignment, it will be performed once the amblyopic eye has stabilized and/or recovered through other therapies. In any case, and although it may not seem so at first, strabismus correction surgery is a safe procedure. Its main objective is to improve the alignment and position of the eyes by lengthening, shortening, and changing the position of the ocular muscles. In adults who were not diagnosed and treated as children, the success rate for vision improvement in cases of amblyopia and stereopsis is practically nil. Nevertheless, physical improvement and eye alignment are feasible goals thanks to surgery. At Clínica Oftalmológica Garcia de Oteyza in Barcelona, we have a team of ophthalmologists specializing in strabology and surgery to correct strabismus in children and adults. Leading the team is Dr. Juan García de Oteyza, a national reference in the specialty and former President of the Spanish Society of Strabology.
García de Oteyza Ophthalmology Clinic Barcelona
For more information and to schedule a visit with our team, please contact us by phone at 93 418 67 89 or at info@garciadeoteyza.es. You can also fill out a contact form to book an appointment by clicking here
