Key Takeaways
- Strabismus happens when one eye looks straight ahead while the other turns in, out, up, or down.
- The turn can be constant or come and go.
- Common signs include double or blurry vision, headaches, head tilting, and closing one eye.
- Eye turns don’t go away on their own and can lead to amblyopia, also called lazy eye.
- Glasses, prism lenses, vision therapy, and eye muscle surgery are possible treatment paths.
- Children and adults both have options.
You snap a photo of your child at the park, and something looks off. One eye is pointed at the camera, and the other drifts toward their nose. Maybe it only shows up when they’re tired, or maybe you notice it every day.
Strabismus is a condition where the eyes don’t point at the same spot at the same time, so one eye looks straight ahead while the other turns inward, outward, up, or down. The turn may be there all the time, or it may appear only now and then, which is why some families spot it in photos before anywhere else. An eye turn is one of the things our team at Focus West Optometry looks for during a children’s eye exam.
Fun Fact: Mantis shrimp have highly specialized eyes that detect different properties of light, including ultraviolet light and polarized light.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
The eye turn itself is often the first thing you see. Other signs show up in how a person acts or what they tell you about their vision, including:
- Noticeable misalignment between the two eyes
- Double vision or blurry vision
- Headaches and eye strain
- Trouble reading or losing place on the page
Head Tilts and Squinting Habits
Watch for a habit of tilting or turning the head to look at something, like the TV or a homework page. Some children cover one eye with a hand or close it entirely while they read.
When Symptoms Usually Show Up
Eye turns are often noticed between 12 and 24 months of age. In newborns, a wandering eye can be normal in the first few months as the eyes learn to work together.
An eye turn that starts suddenly in an adult needs prompt attention from an eye doctor in Signal Hill.
What May Contribute to Strabismus
Strabismus is linked to how the eye muscles and the nerves controlling them work together. Family history plays a role, so mention any eye turn in a parent or sibling at your appointment.
Uncorrected farsightedness can also be a factor, along with a large difference in prescription between the two eyes.
Health Conditions Linked to Eye Turns
Certain health conditions are connected to strabismus, including thyroid eye disease and diabetes. Stroke, head injury, and brain tumours are also linked to eye turns, especially when the turn appears suddenly in adulthood.
Down syndrome and cerebral palsy are associated with strabismus as well.
Why Strabismus Shouldn’t Be Ignored
An eye turn doesn’t straighten out on its own. Over time, it can lead to amblyopia, often called lazy eye, and it affects depth perception and the ability to see in three dimensions. That means judging the distance of a soccer ball or a curb becomes harder than it should be.
Effects on School, Work, and Daily Life
Reading gets tiring fast, and concentration slips. A child might rub their eyes after fifteen minutes of homework, or an adult might feel a dull headache building by mid-afternoon at the computer.
How We Can Help
Care depends on the type of eye turn, how often it shows up, and how well your eyes work together as a pair. A few paths are common:
- Glasses or prism lenses to support how the eyes point and focus
- Vision therapy to build eye teaming skills
- Eye muscle surgery when it’s needed
What Happens at a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Your optometrist checks how your eyes align and how well they focus, both on their own and as a pair. From there, our team creates a treatment plan based on what your eyes need, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Treatment at Any Age
Catching an eye turn early supports a child’s visual development during the years they’re learning to read, catch, and write.
If you’re an adult who has lived with an eye turn for years, options are still available to you. Age alone doesn’t close the door on care.
Book an Eye Exam Today
If an eye turn, double vision, or a persistent head tilt has caught your attention, whether in your child or in yourself, our team at Focus West Optometry can take a closer look. Book a comprehensive eye exam and get answers about what your eyes are doing and what can help.
