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Pediatric/Strabismus
surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of children's eye disorders
including the management of strabismus (deviated or crooked eyes), congenital
cataracts and glaucoma, and a myriad of other conditions pertinent to this age
group. Procedures common to this sub-specialty include surgical management of
the strabismus conditions known as esotropia, exotropia, and hypertropia, amblyopia
(lazy eye), and congenital cataracts and glaucoma.
Strabismus
surgery
Strabismus is a general term referring to ocular misalignment
due to extraocular muscle imbalance. In short, the eyes are "crooked".
Strabismus
is important to recognize, primarily because, in childhood, it is often associated
with the development of amblyopia, or lazy eye.
Amblyopia refers to reduced
vision, uncorrectable with glasses or contact lenses, due to failure or incomplete
development of the visual cortex of the brain. For more on amblyopia, refer on
net websites.
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The cause of strabismus is usually unknown. However, strabismus
is certainly more common in families with a history of the disorder. Several neurological
conditions are more commonly associated with strabismus, including Down's syndrome,
cerebral
palsy, hydrocephalus, and brain tumors.
The great majority of children who present with strabismus, however, have no other
associated neurological abnormalities. A cataract, eye tumor, or other eye disorder
associated with reduced vision may also present with strabismus. Signs
and Symptoms of Strabismus Strabismus can often
be recognized by a casual observer as a "crooked eye". In fact, most cases of
strabismus are first noted by a parent or the child's pediatrician prior to examination
by an ophthalmologist. All children should have their vision examined between
3 and 4 years of age. Treatment for
Strabismus Treatment of strabismus may include
patching of one eye (if amblyopia is present), glasses, or strabismus surgery
to realign the eyes. It is important to understand that strabismus surgery does
not resolve amblyopia (poor vision), and that this can only be corrected with
patching and/or glasses. In some cases, realignment of the eyes occurs with proper
prescription eyeglasses. However, the majority of children with strabismus will
eventually require strabismus surgery to better align the eyes. Strabismus surgery
commonly entails recessions of eye muscles if weakening of muscles is required,
and resections of eye muscles when strengthening of eye muscles is required..
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