Strabismus in adults occurs when the eyes are not properly aligned and point in different directions. While one eye may look straight ahead, the other may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward. This misalignment can vary from one eye to the other. In this article, with the help of specialists from Clínica Nivaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we'll tell you more about this eye condition.
Strabismus affects vision, since to see correctly, both eyes must focus on the same point simultaneously.
There are six eye muscles that control eye movement. One muscle moves the eye to the right and another to the left. The remaining four move the eye up, down, and at an angle. To focus on a single image, all six eye muscles must work together.
What are the causes of strabismus in adults?
To align and focus both eyes on a single target, all the muscles in both eyes must be balanced and work together, with the brain controlling these muscles. People with strabismus often have a problem that can affect the eye muscles, such as:
- Health problems such as diabetes, thyroid eye disease (or Graves' disease), myasthenia gravis, brain tumors, or a stroke.
- Accidents or head injuries.
- Damage to the eye muscles during eye surgery.
- Most adults with strabismus have had it since childhood, but sometimes it starts later in life.
How does strabismus affect vision in adults?
With normal vision, both eyes focus on the same point. The brain combines the two images from our eyes into a single three-dimensional (3D) image. This is how we perceive the depth and distance of objects.
When one eye is misaligned, two different images are sent to the brain. In a young child, the brain learns to ignore the image from the misaligned eye and only sees the image from the straight or better-seeing eye. As a result, the child loses depth perception.
Adults who develop strabismus after childhood often experience double vision, as their brains have already learned to receive images from both eyes and cannot ignore the image from the deviated eye, so they see two images.
Symptoms of Strabismus in Adults:
The most obvious symptom is having eyes that appear misaligned. Adults with strabismus may also notice other symptoms:
- Weakness in or around the eye, or a feeling that something is pulling at your eyes.
- Changes in vision, such as double vision, blurred vision, difficulty reading, or loss of depth perception.
- Constant tilting or turning of the head to see an image clearly.
- The symptoms of strabismus can be constant or they can come and go.
Treatment of Strabismus in Adults
There are several ways to treat strabismus in adults.
Strabismus Surgery in Adults
This is the most common form of treatment for strabismus. Surgery can improve eye alignment and help restore proper vision.
Typically, strabismus occurs when the muscles around the eyes are either too stiff or too weak. One of our experienced ophthalmologists in Santa Cruz de Tenerife can loosen, tighten, or reposition certain eye muscles to align the eyes correctly and allow them to work together. More than one surgery may be necessary to treat strabismus.
The surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure at our ophthalmic surgical center in Santa Cruz, using general or local anesthesia. Our specialist makes a small incision in the tissue covering the eye to access the eye muscles. The muscles are then repositioned to help the eyes point in the same direction. This may need to be done on one or both eyes. After strabismus surgery, you can resume your daily routine within a few days.
Eye muscle exercises
One of our ophthalmologists can teach you exercises to help you focus both eyes inward. These exercises can be helpful if you have convergence insufficiency, which occurs when your eyes don't align properly for close-up tasks, such as reading or working on a computer.
Prismatic lenses
A prism is a clear, wedge-shaped lens that bends (refracts) light rays. A prism can be attached to eyeglasses or made as part of the lens. Prisms can help some people with mild double vision see one image instead of two.
Neurotoxins
In some cases, an injection of this drug into the eye muscles can help treat strabismus. It paralyzes the muscles that prevent the eyes from aligning correctly. The effect may last only a few months, or it could permanently improve eye alignment.
It's never too late to treat strabismus
You don't have to live with the discomfort and problems caused by misaligned eyes. With the help of one of our ophthalmologists at Clinica Nivaria, you can find a treatment for your strabismus.
