Strabismus, often associated with children, can also affect adults. This ocular condition, where the eyes are not aligned correctly, can have a significant impact on vision and quality of life. For expert guidance, it's advisable to consult a specialist who can perform an eye exam and offer tailored recommendations.
What is strabismus?
Strabismus is characterized by poor coordination of the eye muscles, causing one eye to deviate. While one eye looks straight ahead, the other may point inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards. This misalignment may be constant or intermittent.
Causes of strabismus in adults
Adult strabismus can result from a number of factors, including :
- Untreated childhood strabismus: Some adults have suffered from strabismus since childhood, and the condition may persist or reappear later in life.
- Neurological conditions: Diseases such as multiple sclerosis, stroke or brain tumors can affect the nerves controlling the eye muscles.
- Trauma: Head or eye injuries can damage eye muscles or associated nerves.
- Uncorrected vision problems: Double vision (diplopia) or other uncorrected visual abnormalities can cause strabismus.
- Medical conditions: Certain diseases, such as Graves' disease (which affects the thyroid gland), can lead to strabismus.
Symptoms of strabismus in adults
Adults with strabismus may experience a variety of symptoms, including:
- Double vision (diplopia): Double vision is common in adults with strabismus, as the brain receives two different images from the eyes.
- Eye fatigue: Constant efforts to align the eyes can cause eye strain and discomfort.
- Loss of depth perception: Misalignment of the eyes affects the ability to judge distances correctly.
- Headaches: Efforts to compensate for strabismus can lead to frequent headaches.
- Blurred vision: Due to the inability of the eyes to focus together, vision can become blurred.
Treatments for strabismus in adults
Several treatment options are available for adult strabismus, depending on the cause and severity of the condition:
- Corrective glasses or contacts: In some cases, special glasses or contacts can help correct vision and reduce strabismus.
- Eye exercises: Exercises to strengthen the eye muscles can be effective, especially for mild cases of strabismus.
- Vision therapy: This method combines eye exercises with other techniques to improve eye coordination and alignment.
- Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections: Injections can temporarily weaken an overactive eye muscle, helping to realign the eyes.
- Surgery: In more severe cases, or when other treatments fail, surgery may be required to adjust the position of the eye muscles.
Strabismus in adults is a complex condition that can have a variety of causes, leading to embarrassing symptoms. Fortunately, there are several treatment options available to improve eye alignment and quality of life for those affected. If you or someone you know is showing signs of strabismus, it's essential to consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an accurate diagnosis and to discuss the best treatment options.
