Strabismus in children is a condition that causes both lazy eye and aesthetic problems. The eyes are our organs that are aligned with each other and look in the same direction. When this alignment is disrupted, the places where the two eyes look differ and an aesthetically disturbing image emerges. This condition is called strabismus. Strabismus can be congenital or a disease that can develop later. It can be easily diagnosed at any age. Strabismus, which becomes permanent even if it is not treated, also has a psychological dimension because it negatively affects the external appearance. Strabismus can be treated with surgery in the newborn period or in early childhood . For this reason, parents should be careful for early diagnosis because sometimes the deviation in the eyes is very small and it becomes difficult to understand the problem.
How to Understand Strabismus in Children?
In children, a strabismus is a sufficient finding for the diagnosis of strabismus. If the strabismus is too small to be noticed, it is also possible to understand the disease with symptoms such as tilting the head forward, squinting with one eye in sunny weather, and blurred vision. Problems such as vision loss and double vision may also accompany the disease in children with strabismus. At the same time, daily life may be disrupted due to headaches and eye pain.
How is Strabismus Treated in Children?
There may not be an immediate need for surgical intervention in strabismus treatment . Depending on the progression of the disease and the age of the patient, different treatments are preferred by the doctor. Eyeglass treatment is one of the most frequently preferred methods. In cases of accommodative strabismus, that is, strabismus that is corrected with glasses, there is no need for surgical treatment. If correction cannot be achieved with glasses, surgical treatment option is applied. The patient uses glasses after the surgical operation.
Covering treatment for strabismus is also one of the methods used. The eye with the least vision loss is covered with pads for certain periods during the day. In this way, the eye with low vision is made to work more actively. Glasses and cover treatment can be applied at the same time.
Causes of Strabismus in Children
The main reason why the eyes squint in different directions is due to weakness in the eye muscles. As a result of an abnormal work in all or some of the muscles, the eyes lose their alignment. The causes of strabismus in children can also be different diseases. Stroke, brain tumor, Down syndrome and diabetes can cause the problem. There may be a genetic transition in children whose mother and father have strabismus. For this reason, people who have a history of strabismus in their past should not neglect their children's eye checks from infancy.
What Happens If Strabismus in Children Is Not Treated?
Strabismus is not a disease that goes away on its own and must be treated by an eye specialist. If left untreated, both the aesthetic appearance of the eyes and the vision loss will become permanent. Vision loss can reach more advanced levels over time. Therefore, you should take your child to a doctor as soon as you notice the slightest deviation in the eye and a vision complaint.
Does Looking at Your Phone Too Much Cause Strabismus?
It is not possible to say that the use of mobile phones and tablets directly causes strabismus, but it can be said that it causes various eye defects. Children who spend a significant part of the day in front of a tablet or phone may develop vision defects such as myopia due to eye muscle fatigue. For this reason, you should keep your children away from phones and tablets until the age of 3; after this age, you should allow them to use them at certain intervals for a maximum of one hour per day.
Is Strabismus Normal in Newborn Babies?
In newborn babies, squinting can be considered normal for a certain period of time. This situation disappears as the baby's mobility develops. If squinting does not go away within a few months, it is useful to take your baby to a doctor.
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