Adult Strabismus

Learn more about adult strabismus and how it is treated.

Overview

Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes do not line up with one another.

The muscles that control eye movement usually keep both eyes pointed in the same direction. With strabismus, the muscles of the eye do not work properly, causing one or both eyes to point in different directions.

For more information on adult strabismus visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Our clinic

Diagnosis, treatment and management of adult strabismus take place in our Ophthalmology Clinic.

This content is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. It does not replace the need for consultation with a health-care professional. Please speak with your health-care professional for questions about your health.

Symptoms

Most people with strabismus have had it since childhood. Strabismus can occur later in life as a result of:

Injury
Damage to the eye muscles during surgery
Certain health conditions, such as diabetes, thyroid disease or stroke

Adults who develop strabismus usually notices vision changes, such as double vision, blurry vision or a loss of depth perception. Some people feel weakness around one eye or like something is pulling around their eyes. If you experience double vision and it goes away when you cover one eye, that is a sign you may have strabismus.

Diagnosis

If you think you may have strabismus, an optometrist can perform tests to see how well your eyes move in different directions.

Treatment

If you are diagnosed with strabismus, our Ophthalmology team may recommend any of the following treatments:

Eye exercises
Prism eyeglasses
Botulinum toxin
Surgery to tighten or loosen the muscles of the eye